Grade One - GDCS

Grade One uses the Four Block model for its language arts program. For guided reading, we use the Collections series by Prentice Hall Ginn. Students learn to recognize meaning, cause and effect, make inferences, sequencing, and draw conclusions. For writing, grade one students work through the writing process as they create their stories. Mini-lessons focus on various topics such as proper punctuation and capitalization, spelling, and story structure. For working with words, we use the Month-by-Month Phonics curriculum which includes all consonants, vowel sounds, blends, suffixes, digraphs, and word endings. Each week, new words are added to the word wall and word family lists are generated. For self-selected reading, students spend time daily reading independently. They also visit the library weekly.

We use several tools to teach Math. Math Makes Sense (Addison Wesley) is our main curriculum, but Math Their Way and Math Quest activities are also incorporated. Concepts include sorting and patterning, time, temperature, and money, addition and subtraction to 12, geometry, measurement, place value, and number patterns and relationships. Daily drill of math facts help students master addition and subtraction facts to 12.

The social studies and science component of our curriculum comes from the OACS Creation Studies series. Grade one studies the following units: Mapping My Home, Matter and Materials, God Shows Us How to Build, Home and School Communities, Ask the Animals, The Sky Declares, Homes Around The World, God’s Garden, and Canadian Stories.

We study the Bible using CSI’s God’s Plan for His People with an emphasis on the Old Testament. Students also have memory work using the NIV Bible.

Our French program uses Dimoitou I, Volume 1 from Centre Educatif et Culturel. Students learn basic French vocabulary including oral expressions, colours, numbers, body parts, family, weather, animals, shapes, clothing, the alphabet, and foods.

In art, we concentrate on introducing the students to a variety of media and techniques as we learn to express ourselves to others and to God. Drawing, painting, sculpture, weaving, printing, and collage are all a part of art class. Students also learn the elements of art such as colour, line, and texture. Art Ideas (OACS) is used as a resource, as is Art Connections.

In physical education, we teach motor proficiency (walking, running, leaping, hopping, dodging, jumping …) for play (creative movement, games, relays, …) and for learning to use the bodies God has given us. Our primary resource is CSI Physical Education K-Z by Zuidersma.