First Grade curriculum question...more than math & reading?

[Rainbows]

We have 2 days of lessons left for kindergarten...woohoo! We've used Explode the Code and McRuffy for reading & phonics, and Singapore Math.

I'm trying to figure out what to use for first grade.

 

I've been very happy with McRuffy so I'll use that again for reading, and don't have any complaints about Singapore but may look around and see if there is anything else to add in.

 

I'm wondering if I should be adding in some kind of science or social studies? I may do French since I got an intro program from HOP super cheap lol, but that would be more for fun than anything. If I were to add science or social studies, would you recommend a program or just suggesting some ideas to DS and going with what interested him?

 

thanks!

[Mandy in TN]

I'm wondering if I should be adding in some kind of science or social studies? I may do French since I got an intro program from HOP super cheap lol, but that would be more for fun than anything. If I were to add science or social studies, would you recommend a program or just suggesting some ideas to DS and going with what interested him?

 

There have been several first grade threads.

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105601&highlight=grade+schedule

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108283&highlight=Grade

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86777&highlight=grade+plans

 

HTH-

Mandy

[WiseOwlKnits]

We're using Sonlight for science and SOTW/AOP for history/social studies.

[Rainbows]

thanks :)

I looked at some of those other threads and the lists of all the subjects being taught for 1st grade had me overwhelmed. I'd like to stick with reading/phonics daily, math daily or a few times a week, and then maybe science and social studies each a couple times a week (in small doses)

 

ETA: would prefer not to use religious based curriculum

[helena]

Could you do science on a monthly theme so that by the end of 4 weeks you've gently covered a fair amount of information?

i.e We did farming last Sep. (1st & 4th grade) We read a lot of Gail Gibbons books:

http://www.amazon.com/Chicks-Chickens-Gail-Gibbons/dp/0823419398/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246948171&sr=8-19

 

http://www.amazon.com/Pigs-Gail-Gibbons/dp/0823415546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246948215&sr=1-1

 

We read aloud Charlottes Web

 

We went to a farm http://www.ocfair.com/ocf/CentennialFarm/index.asp

 

Built a farm w/ boxes and our animals http://www.farmgoodsforkids.com/c-154-schleich-farm-animal-toys.html

 

We read about farming, crops, soil, ect w/ books dvds etc.

http://nationalschoolproducts.com/nsp/product_info.php?pid=23584

 

We did this all year with different subjects like bats, water science, solar system etc. I never felt the stress of having to do something everyday. When you take a month, by the end you've always surprisingly done a lot.

 

Simple Machines was fun I bought this:http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Early+Simple+Machines+Set+%289654%29/036083/1246949077-592942 and http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Early+Simple+Machines+Teacher%92s+Guide/036084/1246949077-592942

and we watched all of the dvd's from this series (library)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Way-Things-Work-DVD/dp/B000A8NZ04

 

If you follow what he likes I suggest trying to pull from different resources like dvd's, library books, a simple experiment or art project, an outing, books on cd, free online sites, etc.

It can work nice for both science and social studies.

My 1st grader thrives in the 1 month intervals, it seems to be just the right amount of time. I do bulk up our science for my 4th grader though.

 

You could just do nature study over the year too (for science).

http://www.amazon.com/My-Nature-Journal-Personal-People/dp/0967245915/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246950807&sr=1-3

 

http://www.the-private-eye.com/index.html

Edited July 7, 2009 by helena

[Chris in VA]

I can heartily recommend SOTW 1 with the AG for history. You can do it 3 days a week, and it is fun, interesting, and also gives you read alouds and readers, so you don't have to do a reading program except phonics. LOVE it. My dd still likes to go back thru her notebook. I wrote her narrations for her and took pictures of the simple projects we did (making the Nile in a foil pan was a big favorite, as was the cuneiform writing and the "cave painting"). It added spice and delight to our day.

[Donna A.]

I'd like to stick with reading/phonics daily, math daily or a few times a week, and then maybe science and social studies each a couple times a week (in small doses)

 

ETA: would prefer not to use religious based curriculum

 

Have you looked at Five in a Row? Sounds like it might be just what you're looking for. Just don't get the optional Bible Supplement.

 

http://www.fiveinarow.com/FIVEINAROW.html

[JudoMom]

I would add in SOTW 1 & the Activity Guide for history. Have you considered adding in Writing With Ease? I absolutely love the program, and Level 1 takes only 15 minutes or so per day.

[2_girls_mommy]

I looked at some of those other threads and the lists of all the subjects being taught for 1st grade had me overwhelmed. I'd like to stick with reading/phonics daily, math daily or a few times a week, and then maybe science and social studies each a couple times a week (in small doses)

 

What we did for first is still in my signature line. It may look like a lot, but really we did what you are talking about. We did math daily 4 days a week on avg. We did reading and phonics 3-4 days a week. History was 2-3 days and Science was 1 or 2 days with reading of these two subjects going on whenever we wanted. For Art and Music we aimed for once a week. It was more than we did for K the year before, but was very doable.

[tjarnold]

I'm wondering if I should be adding in some kind of science or social studies? I may do French since I got an intro program from HOP super cheap lol, but that would be more for fun than anything. If I were to add science or social studies, would you recommend a program or just suggesting some ideas to DS and going with what interested him?

 

thanks!

 

I guess my advice would be to do what you love, and your child will learn to share that love. In our house, we started history early because that's important to my husband and me. Same with musical instrument study.

 

For history, we love SOTW, and the first book and AG would be a great fit for a 1st grader. Sonlight is wonderful too, but more of an investment unless you just choose books from the book lists in the catalog. For science, I'd probably go the library and help the child pick out books that interest him.

 

Tiffany

[Pamela H in Texas]

I think you can go one of several directions. Some people like the laid back method of formal 3R's but interest or naturally learned things for the other subjects. Some like a loose curriculum for the other subjects. And some people like to do those just as formally.

 

We're starting a little cottage school. Our 1st graders are doing SOTW for history and R.E.A.L. Science (unless I change to Elemental, but I still am officially saying R.E.A.L.). Both of these will be in line with the WTM suggestion for 1st. They'll also have art and music (history, theory, and application of each), logic, and Latin.

 

To me, there is this perfect balance. We can have the formal programs and rigor and yet keep things light and fun. It depends, though, probably mostly on the teacher.

 

I do think there are benefits of less formal methods. I think my own children benefited greatly from learning naturally, through interest, and in order to learn or do other things.

[Aurelia]

Five in a Row is great, IMO, one day is science, another social studies, with art, LA and some applied math for the rest of the five days. It's secular if you don't get the Christian character supplement. You could also do things like read books on subjects of interest, buy some kits and do nature walks for science. You don't have to do a big formal program.

 

We're doing formal curricula (SOTW w/AG and Sonlight Science 1), but it's not necessary at this age.

[Haiku]

I just finished first grade with my dd, and we did science and history following WTM recommendations.

 

Tara

[Mandy in TN]

thanks :)

I looked at some of those other threads and the lists of all the subjects being taught for 1st grade had me overwhelmed. I'd like to stick with reading/phonics daily, math daily or a few times a week, and then maybe science and social studies each a couple times a week (in small doses)

 

ETA: would prefer not to use religious based curriculum

 

Core Knowledge: What Your First Grader Needs to Know sounds like it would be a good spine for you. It is secular and the social studies and science could be completed in your time requirements. The basic book offers good coverage, but certainly leaves room to add in library books as time and interest allow.

 

HTH-

Mandy

[Whereneverever]

I'd start Story of the World and do interest driven science.

[Rainbows]

thanks :)

I am definitely getting the "What your first grader needs to know" book as I have the kindy one and like how it touches lightly on a lot of things.

 

Still looking into SOTW too. Not sure what to do about science. I like the idea of student driven but I know myself well and we aren't always motivated to go out and get books at the library as often as we should. I tend to do better with at least a basic program and can always add/subtract from there

[skaterbabs]

My first grader will be working through CLE Math & Language Arts 100 this year (and possibly Math 200 as well based on her current speed.) While a Christian publisher, there is absolutely no reason you can't use it (the math at least, we haven't started LA yet) secularly, and the program is not expensive by any means. I found a nice penmanship program that we'll do every day as well.

 

For reading, we're simply picking out books she likes and reading them together while working through whatever age-appropriate lit guides I can find for free online. CLE LA incorporates spelling and phonics, and she's been reading for almost two years already. If you need a reading program, Ordinary Parent's Guide is a good one, and so is Explode the Code.

 

History is important to us, and Dot is fascinated by Revolutionary War history, so we're using "I Love America" combined with lots of library visits and "Liberty's Kids" episodes. You can get I Love America from Love to Learn.

 

She wants French, so we'll probably end up doing Flip Flop French. (currclick has this.)

 

We will do science, but probably science "lite". We have the Solomon science "teaching without textbooks" vol 1 guide; I'm working on getting vol 2. It's EXCELLENT, and designed to be used from K/1 through grade 8 and a three-year cycle. Again, lots of videos and such.

 

We're still working on art, but our science spine has lot of suggestions for art activities that tie in with the science lesson. She wants to learn violin, but we may not have the funds for that. She ice skates (PE) and wants to cheer on the same team (different age grouping though) as her cousins. We have a workbook with all kinds of general skills-type activities for pre k-gr1 that includes health & safety type things (stranger danger, teeth brushing, etc). Lots of coloring, cutting and pasting, which is right up her aisle.

 

At this age I'm all about making it fun and accessible.

[Lovedtodeath]

The SOTW AG relies on the library for the extra reading (which is all my DD likes) so... you might want to go another route for that.

[Truscifi]

I can heartily recommend SOTW 1 with the AG for history. You can do it 3 days a week, and it is fun, interesting, and also gives you read alouds and readers, so you don't have to do a reading program except phonics. LOVE it. My dd still likes to go back thru her notebook. I wrote her narrations for her and took pictures of the simple projects we did (making the Nile in a foil pan was a big favorite, as was the cuneiform writing and the "cave painting"). It added spice and delight to our day.

 

:iagree:

We also really loved the recipes - we have had several 'feasts' - Roman, Navajo, Celtic, etc based on what we reading at the time. We also had no trouble trimming it to 2 days a week on busy weeks, just do a little less reading or maybe less of the activities.