RIO GRANDE, An independent school serving students pre-K through sixth grade in Santa Fe, NM

First Grade

Our First Grade Program offers a challenging and nurturing environment with a variety of opportunities for individualized learning.

The Language Arts program explores a variety of literature genres through individual and whole group reading and analysis. Individual research, writing, and drama enable children to strengthen and express their own ideas.

In Math, the "Everyday Math" program focuses on developing counting skills, seeing underlying patterns of numeration, money, telling time, strategies for computation, patterns and sequencing, and number stories.

Science and Social Studies are taught through a thematic approach, linking environmental science and community studies. First graders study insects, spiders, birds of prey, whales, and components of weather. They approach topics as scientists by observing, measuring, classifying, predicting, testing, and making models.

In Social Studies, first graders learn about community life in school, the neighborhood, and their families. They also explore the communities of some Native American cultures.

The Art program in first grade increases student understanding of technique and the elements and principles of design while encouraging individual creative spirit.

In Drama, first graders enhance their communication and listening skills and further develop their dramatic tools of body, mind, and voice while creating scenes and material.

In Multimedia, first graders practice basic skills in navigation, computer drawing, pre-keyboarding, and word processing. The library program supports the transitional nature of this group as readers and encourages independence in locating and borrowing materials.

The Music program in first grade develops a larger repertoire and incorporates impromptu dancing, instrument playing, and critical listening.

In Physical Education, the focus of first grade is the development of the ability to travel in a wide variety of ways using concepts related to space and the body.

In Spanish, students use vocabulary on the family, colors, animals, foods, clothing and weather, vehicles and the home. They begin infinitive verbs and first and second person forms.

As part of a theme study of Birds of Prey, the first grade Service Project enables them to design and sell t-shirts and bags for the Wildlife Center in Española.

>>  See "Second Grade" curriculum >>