|
In first grade, students move towards greater
independence for their own learning, being able to sustain
tasks for longer periods of time and to work in a more
independent fashion. In well-planned learning environments,
they begin to have some choice over their activities, all
devised to further their academics and all under the careful
guidance of experienced teachers.
A farm unit integrates
math and social studies, as children design their own farms
with acreage divided for designated uses. "Fencing"
provides an opportunity to understand the notion of
perimeter, and "purchasing" multiple animals for the farm,
each with a designated price, introduces the concept of
multiplication while applying computational skills. A trip
to Howell Farm culminates the unit.
Another highlight of
the year is an author study of Eric Carle. After reading
and analyzing several of Carle’s books, children write their
own storybook in the style of this beloved children’s
author. As they share their stories with parents and sixth
grade buddies, the pride they take in their work is
evident.
 The work of learning to read, to spell and to
write is interwoven into all of their activities but comes
to life in their journal writings and Weekend Updates.
First graders can also be seen collecting attendance slips
every morning from all of the Lower School classrooms. They
are proud to be contributing to their school community in
this way. |
