Religion
First grade uses the Harcourt “Call to Faith” religion series.  It focuses on our individual uniqueness, God’s love for us, the gifts God has given us including Jesus and our faith, and covers the student learning expectations from the archdiocese for first grade religion curriculum.  We focus on the important religious celebrations of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.  Students have multiple opportunities for prayer in the classroom.

Reading and Writing
It is exciting and challenging as first graders develop their reading and writing skills.  We use the Slingerland ® Approach.  This is a multi-sensory approach to reading, writing, and spelling.  We use a variety of reading materials as we learn decoding, encoding, story parts, sequencing, and comprehension strategies.  Writing is an integral part of the reading process and similar to our guided reading program, we focus on writing for a variety of purposes.

Math
Our math program is centered on the Washington State first grade math standards.  We focus on the major curriculum guidelines for math including:
•           whole number relationships
•           addition and subtraction
•           geometric attributes
•           concepts of measurement
•           representing data including tallies, graphing, tables and pictures
•           reasoning, problem-solving and communicating

Science
The science program is an inquiry-based approach that introduces the children to the steps of the scientific method: observation, hypothesis-formation, prediction, data gathering, and experimentation.  FOSS science kits are used to teach these science skills.  The focus of first grade is insects, air and weather, and solids and liquids.  Many of the classroom themes integrate science topics as well.

Social Studies
First graders are a part of many communities.  The most important community begins at home with family, moving outwards to our school, parish, and neighborhood. First graders learn how to navigate through our communities developing map skills and knowledge of people and cultures.  Social studies is also integrated throughout the reading, writing, science and religion curricula.

Drama
The goal of the first grade drama program is to give students a positive artistic experience. We begin most drama classes with a story.  Most of the stories are multi-cultural tales, but occasionally we create our own stories.  The stories are connected to activities and creative play that enhance their learning. Students love to bring the stories to life by recreating characters and favorite moments through drama. We also focus on specific performance skills with various games, projects and activities.

Music
In first grade the focus is on exploring each element of music with an emphasis on rhythm and melody.  Using their singing voices, movement and rhythm instruments for this exploration are key.  Simple rhythm notation is used to begin to develop music reading skills.  Discovering the joy of music is always of primary importance.

Physical Education
In first grade physical education instruction is focused on the fundamental concepts of loco-motor movements, body and spatial awareness, and safe play.  These concepts are taught through a series of warm-up activities that incorporate these concepts, and group activities that reinforce these fundamentals.  Primary students will have P.E. twice a week.