1st Grade

I consider first grade to be ages 6-7.

Grammar: zero

Poetry: A few times a week. I read poems during our lunchtime. Sometimes I repeat the same poem for a week and the kids memorize it, or I read a different poem every day. There have been stretches when I neglect poetry, but we get back to it.

Copywork: 3-4 times/week

Narration: 4-5 times/week (but short readings)

Science: Nature journal drawing form the bulk of our science at this age, though we will read, explore, go on field trips when a subject catches our interest. But spending time outdoors observing nature is our first-grade science curriculum. One long-term project we start in the early years is learning the names of trees and plants that we find in our area.

History: Almost daily, but a gentle and slow introduction to the subject.

Geography: This is usually covered in our history studies at this age. I have maps posted on walls in our home and the kids have picked up a lot of geography just by looking and talking about the maps. I don’t set a specific time for “geography” in first grade, but will pull out maps as we read or talk about various places. Short and long road trips cover this subject as do walks around the neighborhood to learn street names, direction, local geographical feautures.