1st Grade

PE and Athletics

Our first-grade boys bound into the gym eager to move, play, and explore movement concepts, and learn the manipulative skills associated with a variety of physical education equipment (balls, racquets, bats, etc.).

Music / Performing Arts

During the second year of music, first graders build on their foundational listening skills by adding some simple rhythmic and melodic notation to their vocabulary while they continue to move, sing, explore, and play in addition to regularly using rhythmic ostinati to add a touch of complexity and challenge to melodies they have grown to love.

Theatre

In the First Grade, students will have their first curricular theatre class.

Visual Arts

The First Grade Art curriculum engages a direct response to contemporary art to create long-term projects that involve collaboration, multimedia materials, dramatic play and storytelling. In the woodshop, emphasis is placed on expanding fine motor skills, with each project designed to introduce a new tool.

Homeroom / Advisory / SEL

First graders continue to learn the importance of identifying their feelings and those of others. They acquire strategies to respond to both positive and challenging emotions. Boys also learn what it means to have a growth mindset and practice using language to help them persevere through new and challenging situations.

Writing

First-grade writers learn to generate story ideas and plan out their writing with greater independence. They write across multiple genres and are encouraged to use phonetic spelling as well as their growing knowledge of spelling patterns and sight words.

Reading / English

Students continue to develop their phonics and word analysis skills in order to decode words with greater accuracy. They build their oral fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension skills and learn how to choose books that are best for them.

Library

As students develop the foundational skills of early literacy, our librarian matches them with high-interest books, including easy reader titles that reinforce phonics and sight words, as well as carefully selected early chapter book titles.

Mathematics

Through real-world math contexts and investigations, first graders build on their place value understanding and begin to develop strategies for early double digit addition and subtraction. They are also introduced to the concepts of measurement and money.

Science & Engineering

First graders investigate sound through the creation of instruments using recyclable materials, which allows them to investigate the patterns of sound waves, such as pitch and volume.

Social Studies / History

Boys continue to explore the importance their identity plays in building their community both in and out of school. Building on the idea of community, boys study bridges in New York City and discover that they are a tool to connect people.

Spanish

As students begin to build their literacy skills, a greater emphasis is placed on reading and writing in Spanish. Communication remains paramount through imaginative play, games, songs, chants, and movement activities.

Technology & Digital Fluency

First-grade boys utilize technical tools to demonstrate creative thinking, developing innovative ideas, and products through integrated technology/classroom curriculum units.