1st Grade Curriculum Plans


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1st Grade Curriculum Plans

Emma is 6 years old, and will turn 7 in November.  If we were using grade levels in homeschool she would be in 1st grade.
Math
We use Math U See.  She will just keep plugging away like her sister.  She finished the Primer a few weeks ago and we’ll start her on Alpha on Monday.  She will also use Math-It and other games.
Spelling
We use a combination of lists from The Original Blue Back Speller,  All About Spelling.  She’ll be on All About Spelling level 1.  Later in the year we’ll create additional spelling lists from misspelled words in letters and stories that she has written.
Grammer/Vocabulary
She will start on First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind: Level 1.
Writing
Like her sister, most of Emma’s writing will be through letters to family, stories and essays about history/science.
Reading/Literature
Emma will continue to refine her reading skills.  We’ll be doing that by finishing “The Yellow Book” (it didn’t work with Lucy, but has been much more successful with Emma).  Then we’ll be moving our way through simple books until she can read independently.  Happy Phonics is also a great tool that she enjoys.
Also, Shakespeare will make his debut in our home (ok, he’s not totally unknown around here, but it will be an official part of our studies).  We use a combination of Shakespeare Can Be Fun and Tales from Shakespeare.  After I screen them to see the morbidity, we may have her watch some of the plays, but that will have to be on a case by case basis.
Science
We are currently working on Human Anatomy.  We will be continuing on with that until we finish.  For this we use a hodge podge of materials.  I have so far used the Human Body unit studies from Homeschool Bits as well as various projects from Teacher’s Book Bag.  We also use supplemental resources such as Apologia’s Human AnatomyFirst Human Body EncyclopediaBlood and Guts, and Science With Me and whatever else we can get our hands on.
When we are done we will be moving on to Botany (hopefully, just in time for our garden harvest) and Astronomy after that.  I think that will keep us plenty occupied this year.  I’ll post books and resources for those as we get to them.
US History
I am an unapologetic Patriot.  So for me and my house, we study American History every year.  It is it’s own subject and it put into the rotation as it’s own subject separate from World History.  This year we plan on covering the Discovery up through the Revolution.  Among other things, we will mostly be using American History Stories You Never Read in SchoolI Love America Series and a few other things.
We are using a lot of supplemental resources for this one, so I’ve uploaded my schedule here for anyone who would like it.  I have linked to the cheapest place to buy all of the books I mention.  And just so you don’t get too overwhelmed, I’ve broken it down into chapters so there really aren’t as many books as it looks.  I don’t have any kids books on the Treaty of Paris or the Articles of Confederation, so if you know of any, let me know.
***Disclaimer*** I haven’t read a lot of these books.  I do endorse some of them, but not all of them.  I am basing my selections on suggestions and what is available at my library.  Decide what you want to use based on your values and goals.
History
This year we will be focusing on the Middle Ages and using Story of the World and Mystery of History in tandem.  I’m also toying with the idea of getting Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation & Epistles.  You can never have too much history in my opinion 🙂
US Geography
I’ll be using Confession’s of a Homeschooler’s Road Trip USA and I Love the States by Kimber Curriculum.
World Geography
We’ll be using Expedition Earth by Confession’s of a Homeschooler (I love her) and Galloping the Globe.
Music
Emma is a great candidate for listening to music (without words) while she works.  I recently read that highly distractible children thrive when they are able to keep their hands brains busy at the same time.  Hence lego’s while I read aloud and music during school work.  So she will be listening to the composers we study while she works in addition to learning about them.

As I mentioned in Lucy’s curriculum plans, we are also going to start listening to the works of one composer at a time as well as learning about their lives. I’ve only chosen a few so far, I’m open to suggestions.

  • Mozart
  • Chopin
  • Vivaldi
  • Tchaikovsky
  • Handel
  • John Williams
  • Beethoven
  • Rimsky-Korsakov

We will also spend a bit of time on the different instruments, though not as much time as we’ll spend on the composers.
Art
We will be starting picture study, focusing on one artist’s works and life at a time.  I’m also open to suggestions for artists.  When possible I’d like to keep them appropriate to the time period of our history studies.  I’m sure I won’t have any problem finding enough artists to study considering the Renaissance and all.
Life Skills
In our morning meetings, in addition to prayers and scripture study we go through The 21 Rules of This House focusing on one rule a week.  I’ll also be adding Etiquette into the rotation.
Emma will practice her child-care skills by taking care of and playing with Spencer and Jack when needed during baby duty.  She will also get an increase in her chore responsibilities so that Lucy can focus a little more on her greater school work load.  When Emma gets more school, her chores will fall to Spencer.
Like Lucy, Emma will also start a mini-homekeeping book.  I’m really hoping it will help her focus.
Health/Physical Education
As far as health is concerned, this is something we do on a daily basis by talking about of food choices and why they are (or aren’t) healthy.  I take the kids on a run several times a week, they ride bikes along side me while I push the stroller.  Emma isn’t big enough for running yet, so she will stick to her bike.  And soccer season starts in September.

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