1st Grade

First Grade Newsletter 2025-2026

Reading Summary of Module 3 Amazing Animals: Over the course of Module 3 we will read texts that will help us answer the following

Essential Question: How do animals’ bodies help them? We will develop and work on the following reading skills and strategies: Text Organization, Test and Graphic Features, Story Structure, Make Inferences, Create Mental Images, Make and Confirm Predictions, Author’s Purpose, Make Connections, and Ask and Answer Questions.

  

Reading Summary of Module 4  Better Together: Over the course of Module 4 we will read texts that will help us answer the following

Essential Question: Why is it important to do my best and get along with others?  We will develop and work on the following reading skills and strategies: Text organization, Story Structure, Inferences, Create Mental Images, Elements of Drama, Making and Confirm Predictions, Figurative Language, Author’s Purpose, Make Connections and Cause and Effect.

    

Summary of Module 3 Animals are Amazing  

 

Writing: Over the course of Module 3 we will read the focal text Giraffes, that will help us research which animals are amazing and why. We will be drafting a book by choosing an animal and writing an “all about” book.  We will work on developing our writing skills and strategies by using Text organization, Test and Graphic Features, Making and Confirm Predictions, and Author’s Purpose.

 

Summary of Module 4 To Make a Friend, Be a Friend   

Writing: Over the course of Module 4 we will read the focal text Do Unto Otters, that will help us understand how we want to be treated and how we should treat others. We will be drafting a how-to book by thinking of something we can do to make a new friend. We will work on developing our writing skills and strategies by using Text organization and sequential order, Test and Graphic Features, Linking Words, and Author’s Purpose.

Math Curriculum: 

 

Module 3: Addition Facts to 20: Use Strategies

We are currently in our 3rd math unit.  In this unit students are expanding their knowledge addition by using different strategies to add up to 20. Students are working on the following strategies: counting on to add, using an open number line, doubles, doubles plus make 10 to add, explain addition strategies, solve addition word problems with facts 20, and problem solving critique reasoning. 

 

Home Connection: Please practice adding numbers up to 20 at home by representing a group of 10 and then some more.  Students need to practice counting on from the bigger number in addition. Also, students can practice mastering their skills following their individualized Skill Plan on IXL.

 

Module 4: Subtraction Facts to 20: Use Strategies

In this unit students are expanding their knowledge addition by using different strategies to subtract up to 20. Students are working on the following strategies: count to subtract, make 10 to subtract, fact families, using addition to subtract, explain subtraction strategies, solve word problems with facts 20, and problem solving: reasoning. 

Home Connection: Please practice subtracting from 20 at home.  The strategies will be shared as we go. Again, students can practice mastering their skills following their individualized Skill Plan on IXl. 

Science 

In science our current unit is Animal and Plant Defenses

In this unit, students explore how animals and plants protect themselves to survive. They learn that every living thing has special parts, or structures, and behaviors that help it stay safe from predators and other dangers in its environment.

Big Ideas Students Learn

• All living things need food, water, air, and shelter to survive.
  
  
• Animals and plants have defenses that keep them safe from predators.
  
  
• Some defenses are structures (like spikes, shells, thorns, or camouflage colors).
  
  
• Some defenses are behaviors (like hiding, running away, or curling up).
  
  
• Each defense helps the animal or plant survive in its environment.
  
  

Vocabulary:Top 5 Vocabulary Words – Animal and Plant Defenses

1. Defense – Something an animal or plant uses to stay safe.
   🗣 Sentence: A turtle’s shell is its defense that keeps it safe from predators.
   
   
2. Predator – An animal that hunts and eats other animals.
   🗣 Sentence: A lion is a predator because it hunts other animals for food.
   
   
3. Camouflage – Colors or patterns that help an animal hide.
   🗣 Sentence: The stick bug uses camouflage to look like a stick and stay hidden.
   
   
4. Structure – A body part that helps a living thing live and stay safe.
   🗣 Sentence: A porcupine’s spikes are a structure that protect it from danger.
   
   
5. Survive – To stay alive.
   🗣 Sentence: Animals need food, water, and defenses to survive in their environment.

Home Connection:Try one or more of these fun ideas:

• 🕵️‍♀️ Defense Detective: Go on a walk or look through books and find animals or plants with defenses. Can you spot thorns, shells, or colors that help them hide?
  
  

• 🎨 Create an Animal: Draw or build an animal together. Give it a special defense — maybe spikes, a shell, or camouflage — and name it!
  
  

• 🎥 Movie Moment: Watch a short nature video or cartoon about animals. Pause and ask, “How is that animal staying safe?
  
  

• 💬 Talk About It: Ask your child to teach yo

• u what camouflage or defense means — they’ll love being the “teacher!”
  
  

• 🌿 Garden Guardians: If you have plants nearby, look closely — can you find any with thorns, thick leaves, or tough stems? Talk about how those help the plant stay safe.

Social Studies 

Our class is exploring how people work together in a community and country.

1. Maps – We’re learning how to read and use maps to find places, understand directions, and see where people live, work, and play.
   
   
2. Voting – We’re learning that voting is how people make choices and have a voice in their community. We’ll even practice our own class vote!
   
   
3. Bill of Rights – We’re learning that the Bill of Rights is a list of important freedoms, like the right to speak, gather, and practice our own beliefs.
   
   
4. Civic Responsibilities – We’re learning that being a good citizen means helping others, following rules, telling the truth, and working together to make our community better.

Home Connection:

Talk about how your family makes decisions together — like voting on a movie or dinner choice.

Look at a map together and find your city or state.

Discuss one rule or responsibility that helps keep your home or community safe.

 Vocabulary:

 

 ​​Citizen – A person who belongs to a community, state, or country.
🗣 Sentence: “A citizen helps take care of their community.”

Vote – To make a choice or decision by raising your hand, marking a ballot, or saying your answer.
🗣 Sentence: “We vote to choose what game to play.”

Rights – Things that people are free to have or do, like speaking, learning, or being treated fairly.
🗣 Sentence: “The Bill of Rights protects our rights and freedoms.”

Responsibility – Something you should do to help yourself or others.
🗣 Sentence: “It’s our responsibility to follow rules and help our community.”

Map – A picture that shows where places are and helps people find their way.
🗣 Sentence: “We used a map to find our school and park.”

Music Curriculum: 

Students in first grade music are applying their knowledge of steady beat in various percussion instruments and movement activities. The students are learning to distinguish between different sections of recorded music. The students will be studying “Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saens to tie to their learnings in their HMH unit “How Animals Bodies Help Them.”

Art

1st grade artists will connect to their HMH module by learning how to draw different animals. Students will explore how to create detailed drawings of animals through line, shape, color, and texture. Students will learn how to create backgrounds related to animal environments and their homes. 

Parent & Student Voice

Class 101,102,103

Students shared their favorite parts about each of our Units.

101

  

Naila:    “ In math, I learned to solve word problems and show my work.”

Aaliyah: “In writing , I learned to add more details to make my writing clearer.”

Alex :     “ In science, I learned how plants and animals use their body parts to stay alive.”

 

Class 102

My favorite part of Reading and Writing is learning about animals. -Ruqaiyah Abdullah

Math is my favorite part. -Anthony Cana 

Class 103

  

Fayona: “In math, I learned about subtraction.”

Joshua: “ In math, I learned about addition plus 10.”

Kaylee: “ In reading, I learned about amazing animals.”