First Grade Academics

Parent Newsletter

What will my child learn?

English Language Arts

Standards

• Wisconsin English Language Arts Standards (Revised 2020)

Resources

• Curriculum Map
• Phonics Scope and Sequence

First Grade Units

Parent Resources for ELA

• RAZ Information for Families
  Your child has access to an award winning literacy resource. Click on this link to learn more about Raz Plus from Learning A-Z!
• Act 20 Resources & Family Activities

Math

Standards

• Wisconsin Math Standards (revised 2020)

Resources

• Scope and Sequence

First Grade Units

Parent Resources

• Math at Home – collection of activities, organized by mathematical content, uses familiar routines that can be used by students and families.
• Math Apps – free apps that are based on the visual models student use in Bridges in Mathematics

Social Studies

Standards

Wisconsin Social Studies Standards

Resources

• MyWorld Interactive

First Grade Units

Science

Standards

• Wisconsin Science Standards

First Grade Units

Social Emotional Learning

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) helps children develop the skills they need to succeed in school and in life. These include:

• Understanding and managing emotions
• Making responsible decisions
• Showing empathy and kindness
• Building positive friendships
• Solving problems in peaceful ways

SEL supports the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally—helping students feel safe, confident, and ready to learn.

Elementary school is a time when children are learning how to navigate the world around them. As they grow, they begin to understand themselves, others, and how to work together. SEL helps students:

• Develop self-confidence and independence
• Learn how to handle big emotions
• Build friendships and resolve conflicts
• Follow directions and stay focused in class
• Create a strong sense of belonging at school

When students feel supported socially and emotionally, they are more engaged in learning and better prepared for future academic success.

KUSD uses the Second Step Elementary program, a trusted, research-based curriculum that teaches SEL skills in a developmentally appropriate and engaging way.  Second Step lessons are taught in the elementary classroom and focus on:

• Skills for Learning – Listening, focusing attention, and being assertive
• Empathy – Understanding and caring about others’ feelings
• Emotion Management – Recognizing strong emotions and calming down
• Problem-Solving – Using step-by-step strategies to make good choices

Lessons include stories, songs, discussions, games, and role-playing to help students practice their skills in fun and meaningful ways.

• Second Step
• CASEL
• WI DPI Social Emotional Learning

Physical Education

All K-5 students in the Kenosha Unified School District participate in physical education for 75 minutes per week.

Wisconsin Physical Education Standards

Music

All K-5 students in the Kenosha Unified School District participate in general music for 45 minutes per week.

• National Core Arts Standards

First Grade Learning Objectives for Music

Students will experience and interact with the following:

Emerging Rhythm Skills

• Pulse
• Long/Short Patterns

Emerging Melodic Skills

• High/Low/Same
• Create vocal glissandi

Developing Vocal Skills

• Echo simple melodic patterns using their head voice
• Sing simple songs in their head voice
• Perform simple chants
• Spontaneously perform an original melody/tune using two or more notes

Developing Instrumental Skills

• Perform the pulse on classroom instruments
• Use proper playing technique on classroom instruments

Grade Level Musical Elements

• Four voices
  • Singing
  • Speaking
  • Whisper
  • Shout
• Loud and soft
• Slow and fast tempo
• Long and short sounds

Developing Interaction with Music

• Imitate creative movement with or without music
• Identify the expressive intent of music

Art

All K-5 students in the Kenosha Unified School District participate in art for 45 minutes per week.

• National Core Arts Standards

First Grade Learning Objectives for Visual Art

Elements and Principles of Art

• Space
  • Explains the purpose of a horizon line.
• Color
  • Recognizes and identifies the secondary colors.
• Texture
  • Identifies real and implied textures.
• Variety
  • Uses many shapes, colors and textures. 

Artistic Process

• Experiments with materials to design artwork on purpose (including 2D and 3D artwork).
• Uses art vocabulary correctly to explain creative ideas.

Craftsmanship

• Observes, investigates, classifies and determines how to make art and make revisions for improvement.

Responding

• Names who work in art museums and galleries and describe what they do.
• Explains various imaginative artworks and how it makes them feel and why.

Connecting

• Asks and answers questions about artwork to be put on display for others to see.

Contact Information