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Grade 1 Curriculum

Our curriculum prescribes a well integrated, balanced, inquired based holistic learning experience for our budding 1st graders. In first grade, learners develop a practice of deeper inquiry & understanding in various areas. Our curriculum is aimed at nurturing their innate curiosity and instilling intrinsic motivation to learn, by connecting concept understanding and skill learning with hands on learning activities, games, and play innovatively.

Our comprehensive curriculum integrates the best practices, & learning themes of standard curricula, and syllabi across the world. In addition, our curriculum is adaptable and flexible to address the challenges, and opportunities of online/digital learning and hybrid learning. With provisions for differentiation, and personalization, our curriculum stands out as a truly global, 21st century education platform, which is much needed in a post pandemic era.

Academic learning in grade1 is well complimented with holistic & adaptive assessments, co-curricular and extracurricular learning activities, and flexible, adaptable, & multiple intelligence learning methods, thus nourishing the scholastic, social & emotional, leadership, life skills, and character development of our blossoming learners.

What We Learn

Actively listen and understand verbal instructions, stories, and more. Expressing, and responding clearly using simple sentences.

Learning Outcomes:

Adopt classroom practices e.g., listening to others, and taking turns speaking about the topics and texts for discussion

Build on conversation by responding to queries and querying

Recite simple poems with appropriate actions

Comprehend a text read aloud by asking and answering questions about key details

Respond to simple questions based on stories

Ask questions/make enquiries to clear confusion/ doubt

Describe people, places, things as per their interpretation / context

Express ideas and feelings clearly

Use words and phrases acquired through conversation, reading and being read to, and respond to texts

Produce complete sentences as appropriate to task and situation

Give and follow two-step verbal directions 

Read a variety of reading material – building word decoding, expression, voice, fluency, and comprehension

Learning Outcomes:

Read with the help of pictures (print/tactile forms)

Engage in group and individual reading with an understanding and meaning

Draw or add visual displays to descriptions wherever appropriate, to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings

Identify who is telling the story at various points in the passage

Read grade appropriate text with fluency and pauses at the appropriate places;

Learn letter patterns so decoding becomes fluent and secure

Blend letter sounds, including alternative patterns, like recognizing “ue” as the “oo” sound.

Read aloud words that contain more than one syllable.

Recognize common suffixes, such as “–ing” and “–less”.

Read words that don’t follow phonetic patterns, such as “one” and “who”.

Become familiar with a wide range of fairy stories and traditional tales.

Check that what has been read makes sense, and self-correct reading where necessary.

Make predictions about what might happen next in a story.

In first grade, we learn to write clearly using proper punctuation, grammar, & following a writing process. Write longer sentences and more sentences to express all we know, our ideas, thoughts about a topic.

  Learning Outcomes:

Form letters of the appropriate size, using capital letters where appropriate.

Write (using print and tactile letters), words and sentences

Begin a sentence with a capital letter and end it with a full stop and use appropriate spacing between words.

Draw and write on a familiar topic (e.g. “my teacher”, “my surrounding”, etc.)

Narrate with the help of pictures and charts a single event or several linked events, in the order in which they occurred and describe a reaction to what happened

Plan out writing, by noting down key words, highlights etc.

Re-read writing to check that it makes sense and to make corrections, including punctuation.

Use question marks, exclamation marks, apostrophes and commas in lists.

Correctly use the present and past tenses.

Respond to questions and suggestions from peers and add details to improve writing as required

Take dictation – three and four letter words and small sentences;Write stand-alone sentences of 4-6 lines on a given topic (e.g. “I love ice cream…”).

Begin to write longer sentences by using conjunctions, such as “and”, “but”, “if” or “because”.

Grammar and vocabulary are developed in context and in a phased manner. Children learn to use basic concepts which is reflected in their writing and speaking

Learning Outcomes:

Make contextual use of naming, action, describing and position words with their opposites

Get acquainted with the concepts of number (one and many) and gender (she/he)

Learn the use of ‘a’, ‘an’ and ‘the’

Write all upper and lower case letters;

Use gender neutral common, proper and possessive nouns

Use singular, plural nouns and opposites with matching verbs in basic sentences. (e.g. she hops/ we hop)

Use verbs in context to convey a sense of simple past, simple present and simple future

Use frequently occurring adjectives, conjunctions, determiners, and prepositions;

Use capital letters for proper nouns (names of people, places, etc.)

Learn to use commas, full stops, question marks and exclamation marks appropriately

Spell untaught words phonetically, drawing on phonetic awareness and spelling convention

Use vocabulary appropriate to their age level

Spell three and four letter words.

Develop number sense – basic sequences, counting, and comparison

Learning Outcomes

Understand the concept of number zero

Write numbers and number names up to 100

Comprehends tens and ones place.

Skip counts by 10

Comparison of numbers up to 99.

Forming two digit numbers using the given digits (with or without repetition).

Sequences of numbers up to 99 in an increasing or decreasing order

Mental computation of before, after and in-between number

Mental computation of increment or decrement within 10

Basic operations of addition and subtraction of numbers up to 99. Materials, pictures and stories of daily life contextual problems establish meaning in problem-solving situations.

Learning Outcomes

Learn different addition and subtraction strategies

Addition and subtraction up to 20 (in steps-first up to 9 / less than 10 and then up to 20).

Understand the concept of addition partners within 10 and apply it to solve for missing number/subtraction.

Addition and subtraction of numbers within 99 without regrouping.

Solving problems presented through pictures and verbal descriptions by addition and subtraction of numbers.

Classify, sort and describe various shapes on the basis of their observable features. The shapes that are in children’s daily life form a strong basis for acquiring visualization skills.

Learning Outcomes

Describe the physical features of various solids/shapes in her own language

Describe names, and interpret relative positions in space and apply ideas about relative position

Understand connection of geometrical concepts with daily life.

Sorting, classification and description of shapes on the basis of their observable properties like corners, vertices, edges, surfaces etc.

Basic 3D shapes like cuboid, cylinder, cone, sphere by their observable properties and names.

2-D shapes as outlines of the surfaces of 3-D shapes on paper/or flat surface.

2D shapes – rectangle, square, triangle, circle, line etc.

Understand the need to measure, what can be measured and how. Learn measurement vocabulary,  and measuring length, weight, capacity and time.

Learning Outcomes

Estimate and measure short lengths using non uniform units like a finger, hand span, length of a forearm, footsteps

Introduction to Vocabulary like near, far, thin, thick, longer/taller, shorter, high, low etc.

Compare lengths of objects and arrange in order

Measure short lengths using non-standard units (e.g. hand span)

Estimation of short distances and lengths and their verification using non- uniform units

Distinguish between events occurring in time by using vocabulary like – earlier, later

Compare mass/weight using a scale

Compare heavy and light objects.

Order various containers in terms of their capacity and volume

Arrange events happening in short/longer span of time.

Combine numbers of coins to make a given value

Explore data collection using observation – birthdays, clothes, colors data etc..

Learning Outcomes

Collect, record (using pictures/ numerals) and interpret simple information by looking at visuals.

Patterns

Familiarizing children with different types of patterns in their surroundings. Learn to extend patterns of numbers and shapes through observation.

Learning Outcomes

Observation and identification of unit of repetition in a given pattern

Extension of the pattern to next few terms on the basis of the identified unit of repetition

Create patterns from daily life experiences.

Uses a variety of strategies to solve addition & subtraction word problems within 100.

Learning Outcomes

Add and subtract numbers mentally and using objects, including two-digit numbers.

Infer adding two numbers can be done in any order, but subtracting cannot be

Recognize how addition and subtraction are inverse operations.

Learn multiplication and division facts for the 2x, 5x and 10x tables.

We learn about ourselves (About Me), Animals, Plants, Bugs, & more about life and living things.

Learning Outcomes:

Learn about senses and sense organs, through various observation activities

Know the internal and external parts of our body, their functions

Develop an understanding what makes us grow and how we grow/develop over time.

Get to know about plants with curiosity, their needs, how they grow, types of plants and more.

Get to know about animals with curiosity, different animals, how they grow, where they live, how are they like us and different from us.

Get to know about bugs& birds –  explore interesting and fun facts about them

Learn about matter, light, sound, force, wheels, water, and more through scientific observation, experiments, and inquiry.

Learning Outcomes

Introduction to matter and its states

Learn about light, sun, and shadows

What is sound? where does it come from 

Learn about force, wheels and thing that move and makes us move

Play with water and ice and learn much about it with observation.

Learn about our planet Earth, the Solar System, the sky, the moon, & the sun, water and air. Learn about days & nights, seasons & weather. 

Learning Outcomes

Learn, understand, and know facts about air, the Solar System, Earth & Moon.

Explore and learn what causes days and nights, seasons, and weather.

Develop an inquiry mindset about what makes life possible on Earth, whats is it like in space, moon and the rest of the planets.

Know fun facts about rocks, fossils, stars, rain, rainbow, sky and more.

Learn the importance of experimenting, investigating, and making inferences in science by conducting hands on experiments, observations, and investigations.

Learning Outcomes

Carry out experiments.

Use scientific apparatus, such as magnifying classes, to make observations.

Conduct a variety of inquiry experiments with water, ice, soap, air and make inferences

Collect information about what they have seen.

Make links between observations and scientific understanding.

We learn about all things we need to live, – the basics needs, relationships, social structure, recreation, religion, festivals, occupation, money and more

Learning Outcomes

Develop greater cognizance of the basic needs of life – food, water, shelter, security and community and how we realize those needs

Demonstrate understanding of identity and relationships – family, friends, neighborhood and how we relate to our community, our country

Know about the various occupations and their role in supporting life.

Learn about the role of money

Understand the role of entertainment and the various forms of individual and collective recreation.

Beginning to understand religions, festivals, traditions and customs.

Develop a historical sense and context of many things that exist today.  Comprehend maps and develop geographical understanding in a global (the world) and local (my school, my home, my city) context

Learning Outcomes

Know the common historical context – Early age, explorations and civilizations.

Learn about local history of the country, city where you live

Demonstrate an understanding that historical events small and big cause things to change from what they used to be at the beginning and what they are know.

Learn to read maps, locate places, understand the purpose of maps.

Inquire and know more about a local place by reading its map and draw a representational map of familiar surroundings (such as your room, your house, your neighborhood, your play ground etc).

Develop a high-level understanding of the geography of the world – oceans, continents, countries, mountains, rivers, deserts etc.

** Second Languages options include – Telugu, Hindi, French and Spanish

Ability to distinguish letter sounds, repeat and retain word pronunciation and meaning. Ability to comprehend the main idea of an audio lesson using picture prompts. Speak in simple sentences with basic vocabulary, ask and respond to questions in full sentences or phrases. Memorize and recite poems with simple words.

Reading Fluency and Comprehension

Read simple words and sentences – by decoding the letter sounds. Ability to decode word meanings using pictures and context. Understand stories read, aloud with explanation. Comprehend the overall  context, word meanings etc as teacher explains individual sentences/events in a story.

Writing and Grammar

Able to form all letters, write two letter words and sentences. Develop basic understanding of grammar and incorporate it in reading, writing, and speaking.

Specific language learning outcomes and themes to be added soon.

Learn about computing systems, devices, and networks. Develop curiosity and beginner understanding what computers do

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of a computing system, computing device and networks using examples.

Comprehend that a computer takes/need data and instructions (what we want it to do and how we want it to do) and gives results.

Understand that a network is a physical wire or wireless connection that sends messages to and from our computer and comprehend what communication is using practical experiments & inquiry

Develop a high-level understanding of the impact of computing, using the immediate context as the source of inquiry ( How a computer is enabling our learning, TV, games, communication etc) 

Learn what is data, different types of data, what is an algorithm and the relationship between data and algorithms.

Learning Outcomes

Develop a foundational understanding of data as information about something, that data can come in various forms.

A computer uses data (consumes data, processes data, stores and retrieves data and generates new data/information) to perform tasks

Understand that algorithm is a set of step by step instructions that a computer uses to solve a problem or to perform a task.

Develop computational thinking practice by coming up with algorithms/recipes for many day to day tasks

We learn the basics of operating computers (various computing devices like a laptop, tablet and smart phone), practice typing and navigating with mouse, and understand the high level working of various operations such as opening a file, sending a message etc.

Learning Outcomes

Learn about powering computers on and off and the safety precautions.

Learn about troubleshooting – what to do when the computer does not respond as expected.

Develop digital fluency – by practicing typing, opening, editing, & saving files, using common applications and best practices.

Beginning to recognize our thoughts and feelings. Understanding what are expected behaviors in classroom, at home, in a public place and so on. Practice whole body listening

Learning Outcomes

Recognize and naming feelings

Understanding what are expected and unexpected behaviors in a classroom, in a library, at the airport and so on places.

Recognizing the way we behave and conduct ourselves makes other people have good or bad thoughts about us.

Learn about the unthinkable characters that can take over thoughts and behaviors and relate to our experiences and how to use own super flex powers to win over unwanted thoughts and unacceptable behaviors.

Listen with attention and respond appropriately – demonstrate whole body listening in class and at home.

Understand relationships and know your circle of support – people who love me, people who like me, people who I can ask for help

Initiate and sustain play & conversations, connect, collaborate and work together with peers in classroom and develop positive relationships.

Learning Outcomes

Know about inside and outside voice, and understand how our behaviors can bother others

Show curiosity, interest, and social wonder towards peers in class – knowing and sharing common interests, asking questions, asking for help and helping others 

Learn ways to communicate politely when others behavior bothers us and find ways to get along/work together.

Play cooperatively with peers taking turns, sharing ideas.

Work cooperatively with peers – taking initiative, understanding each of us can have different ideas and approach to solve problems.

Know the rules of fair play and speak up when others take your turn or being a bully.

Be aware of personal space bubble when sharing a work/play space with peers.

Recognize adults who you can go to for support, or to ask for help when in trouble.

Able to initiate & join in conversations and play.

Listen and respond to others with attention ( staying on topic/task at hand)

Making good and responsible choices, that contribute to personal and community success, and wellbeing

Learning Outcomes

Discuss and understand about good and bad choices through stories and personal experiences – practice using would you rather questions

Understand the steps for making a good decision – know what is to be decided, what options you have and the possible consequences of your decision

Demonstrate understanding of what a collective decision is and how it impact us using classroom/school examples.

Participate in discussions around responsibility, choices, and decisions in stories and real life experiences.

Introduction to mindfulness and mindful practices

Learning Outcomes

Learn mindful practices – mindful eating, mindful breathing, mindful body scan, mindful walking, mindful listening, mindful drawing etc

Develop and sustain mindfulness practice for a short time (2-10 minutes)

Use mindfulness strategies to recognize & name thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

Use mindful breathing to calm down when you feel triggered ( about to act in anger, or frustration)

Learn various coping strategies to deal with bad/thorny days

Practice gratitude, kindness, and compassion towards self and others.

Introduction to growth mindset and its benefits.

Learning Outcomes

Learn the difference between growth and fixed mindset.

Demonstrate understanding by relating to situations when you or someone else (your friend, family member or a character in a story) has overcome challenges by embracing growth mindset

Differentiate between growth and fixed mindset choices when given an example of a particular character acting in a certain way in a given situation.

Read regularly and become familiar with growth mindset affirmations.

Journal personal experiences about how you have used growth mindset affirmation or practice and reflect how it helped you

Able to understand and articulate the benefits of growth mindset

In grade 1 children learn engage in both free flow and step by step guided drawing and coloring activities to experience artistic freedom while learning the proper techniques and helpful tools.

Learning Outcomes:

Draw and color different shapes of different sizes on paper

Make shapes of different sizes with clay and play dough.

Identify and draw lines namely; straight, curved, vertical and horizontal  with near precision.

Make free flow drawing of animals, things,  and people from imaginations or scenes seen earlier

Drawing images of their liking from immediate surroundings and color them appropriately

Identify and name different textures and surfaces of household objects, flowers, fruits, fabric, & more.

Drawing cartoons, animals, and animations following step by step instructions

Make an attempt to draw a picture what you see in a story

Draw / paint compositions on themes, such as myself, my family, my school, park where I play

Beginning to learn and use tools and techniques and building comfort with practice.

Learning Outcomes

Create a variety of paper craft project using prepared materials

Master use of common tools – scissors, glue, coloring with crayons, outlining, and tracing neatly

Demonstrate proper scissor, pencil, crayon grip.

Engage in finger and fine motor exercise such as pinching, rolling, squeezing, twisting, cutting, knotting and more using art and craft.

Explain the steps in making a craft or a drawing clearly.

Learn to reproduce the steps in creating a drawing or a craft through repetition.

Learn basics of singing and how to create rhythm with simple instruments like bells, rattles, and more

Learning Outcomes

Learn basics of singing with practice

Sing a variety of rhymes and songs with rhythm in a group and individually

Demonstrate ability to sing together as a group with practice

Comprehend patterns in music and create simple musical patterns with hand beats, claps, bells and rattles

Sync with musical beats, when participating in music & movement activities

Engage in free flow dance – embracing practice of responding with dance to music, joy, and excitement.

Learning Outcomes

Able to dance freely expressing inner joy and excitement at home, in class, in a variety of settings without being feeling conscious

Dance in rhythm to the music.

Able to watch and learn dance steps, and perform a short dance sequence with practice.

Understand that dance is a way of expressing ourselves with grace – its a  way our body and mind respond to events that cause feelings inside us (happy or sad).

Engage in role and pretend play individually and with peers in a variety of contexts for a sustained period of time.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of how a person playing different roles ( such as a doctor, teacher, chef, shopkeeper and so on) might interact and respond in various scenarios – such as a doctor examining a crying kid,  a teacher playing with kids in a classroom, being a popular chef at a restaurant, being a helpful shop keeper

Demonstrate understanding of social situations and develop empathy

Demonstrate acting skills using dialogues, expressions, and props when playing pretend and role playing.

Able to demonstrate various actions in pretend – like playing a ball, eating ice cream, reading a story..

Demonstrate ability to imitate a favorite character or a familiar person in one or two aspects – the way they talk, their gestures etc..

Participate in a wide variety of physical activities willingly engaging various parts of the body  – building strength, flexibility, body awareness and balance.  Develop an awareness of the importance of daily physical activity through daily practice

Learning Outcomes

Actively participate in a variety of physical activities – furthering various gross motor skills, body awareness and balance.

Demonstrate an understanding of factors that contribute to their personal enjoyment of being active

Identify reasons for participating in physical activity every day – to have fun, to stay healthy, to  build strength

Participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity, with appropriate warm-up and cool-down activities, to the best of their ability for a minimum of fifteen minutes each day

Display motivation to reach a certain level/goal in a physical activiti(es) – like building up to do 20 jumping jacks, climbing the play ground structures with ease, mastering monkey bars etc..

Demonstrate behaviors and apply procedures that maximize safety and lessen the risk of injury, for themselves and others during physical activity (e.g. avoiding jumping from a height without practice, watching out for others when swinging)

Perform movement skills, demonstrating an understanding of the basic requirements of the skills and applying movement concepts & strategies as appropriate, demonstrating an understanding of the components of a variety of physical activities, in order to enhance their ability to participate successfully in those activities.

Learning Outcomes

Perform a variety of static balances with and without equipment (e.g., balance on the floor, on a line, on a bench; balance objects on different body parts)

Demonstrate the ability to move and stop safely and in control, with an awareness of people and equipment around them

Perform a variety of locomotor movements with and without equipment,, moving at different levels, using different pathways, and traveling in different directions

Send and receive objects of different shapes and sizes in different ways, using different body parts, at different levels.

Apply a variety of simple tactics to increase their chances of success while participating in and exploring physical activities and games

Understanding the importance of staying healthy, personal safety and injury prevention, eating healthy and making healthy choices

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of factors that contribute to healthy development

Demonstrate the ability to apply health knowledge and social-emotional learning skills to make reasoned decisions and take appropriate actions relating to their personal health and well-being.

Apply their knowledge of essential safety practices to take an active role in their own safety at school.

Identify habits and behaviors (e.g., excessive screen time or video game usage) that can be detrimental to health, and explain how people can be encouraged to adopt healthier alternatives

We learn the basics – the theme, rules, strategies of team and individual sports like basket ball, soccer, athletics, jump rope, hula hoop etc . We practice the age appropriate drills of each sport and familiarize ourselves and build comfort with the sport

Learning Outcomes

Children learn and practice a variety of gross motor and balancing skills as they engage in sport drills

Understand the basics rules of a sport

Build physical fitness, familiarity, and comfort with sport by practicing drills

Recognize favorite sport as they practice drills.

Learn the importance of team work, sportsmanship, safety, and practice for sporting success.

Children learn the basics of effective communication when talking or presenting in class. Further they also learn how to present their craft (writing, drawing, projects..) neatly to draw the attention of the audience.

Learning Outcomes

Show and tell with preparation – bring a thing or two show in class and talk about that in good detail with clarity

Ability to speak clearly with pauses, engaging the audience

Communicate ideas, asks, needs, and wants clearly to adults and peers.

Present a drawing, a craft, or writing neatly, explaining the main idea and idea.

Narrate stories & experiences with clarity & expression creating interest and engagement.

Share jokes, riddles, or impromptu ideas with class with comfort.

Leading is being responsible, staying curious, to prioritize and make decisions. We learn how to influence in 2nd grade

Learning Outcomes:

Learn self awareness and develop self understanding and lead ourselves in our personal experiences – communicate our thoughts & feelings

Learn to be assertive and advocate for ourselves when needed

Joyfully explore by asking questions, seeking out new knowledge.

Observe & show interest in everything and everyone and listen.

Set smart goals, work towards achieving them – with practice, recognizing & resolving roadblocks & conflicts and seeking help when needed.

Learn to make good choices and decisions.

Learn about influence and apply methods to influence to build our influencing power

Reach out to help others in need, and seek help from others when needed.