First Grade Curriculum
First graders at Thrive Academy learn within an engaging classroom and an experiential outdoor learning environment. Throughout the day, students participate in developmentally appropriate activities designed to create the foundation for future academic success. Children are guided through activities that encourage imaginative inquiry and higher order thinking skills as their social-emotional development is nurtured. Creativity, collaboration, effective communication, problem-solving, and a love for learning continue to be the hallmarks of Thrive Academy education.
Language Arts
Through guided read alouds, students are introduced to a variety of genres and begin to identify the characteristics of fiction text, make predictions, identify cause and effect connections, and sequence stories. Prewriting skills include dictating stories, noticing capitals at the beginning of a sentence, punctuation, compound words, CVC blending and tracking words left to right. Word families, oral modeling, dictated storytelling, and labeling are incorporated into pre-writing, hands-on literacy activities.
Science
In first grade students learn to conduct scientific inquiry through multi-sensory, hands-on lessons. During investigations students predict, observe, compare, classify, reason, measure and communicate as they delve into units on magnets, states of matter through liquids and solids, fitness and health, organisms, animals and the properties of water.
Specials
Art: First grade students develop an understanding of artistic techniques through different mediums such as watercolor, collage, oil pastels, markers, and clay while learning about lines, patterns, and shapes. Cutting, gluing, tearing, folding, drawing, painting, stamping and sculpting techniques are introduced.
Physical Education: Throughout the year, students develop personal space understanding and hand-eye coordination as they are introduced to sport specific movements, flexibility, and balance activities. Sport basics are introduced for soccer and basketball including skills like kicking, throwing and dribbling.
Music: Students learn songs about animals, seasons, weather, and holidays. Expand moving to a steady beat through individual and partner dance. Work on motor movement skills through dance imitation.
Math
Math investigations are presented through group activities and routines such as the calendar, weather charts, and attendance. Emphasis is placed on recognizing and writing of numerals (1-30), counting, estimation, problem solving, comparing numbers, shapes, number stories, measurement, adding, subtracting, sorting and patterning.
Character Education
Social and emotional skills continue to be taught in first grade. During daily classroom meetings and activities, students practice sharing, collaborating, listening, and interpersonal problem-solving skills. Emphasis is placed on manners, reciprocating and initiating interactions with peers. Literature, journals, songs, role playing, buddy activities, cooperative learning activities, and “teachable moments” are also an integral part of the character education program.