First Grade

English Language Arts

English Language Arts students will grow skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students in First Grade will… 

● use letters, sounds, and word patterns to figure out  words when reading and writing 

● ask and answer questions about details, main ideas, and story parts, showing understanding of fiction and nonfiction texts 

● discuss books, share opinions, and explain thinking during classroom conversations 

● retell stories, including the beginning, middle, and end, describe characters and settings 

● use text features like headings, labels, and diagrams to help understand new information 

● write opinion, informative, and narrative pieces with a beginning, details, and ending 

● improve writing by revising, making ideas clearer, using correct grammar and punctuation 

● participate in conversations, listen to others, and speak clearly when sharing information 

● learn new words through reading and discussion and use strategies like context clues to figure out word meanings

Mathematics

KPS math students make sense of problems and persevere in solving them; reason abstractly and quantitatively; construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others; model with mathematics; use appropriate tools strategically; attend to precision; look for and make use of structure; and look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. Students in First Grade will… 

● solve addition and subtraction word problems in situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing 

● add with a sum of 20 or less and subtract from a number 20 or less using strategies based around the number 10 

● quickly and accurately add with a sum of 10 or less and quickly and accurately subtract from a number 10 or less (2 + 5, 7 – 5) 

● understand what the digits mean in two-digit numbers (place value) 

● use understanding of place value to add and subtract (38 + 5, 29 + 20, 64 + 27, 80 – 50) 

● measure lengths of objects by using a shorter object as a unit of length 

● make composite shapes by joining shapes together and dividing into halves or fourths

Science

Through inquiry, collaboration, and sense-making, KPS students use science to understand the world around them regarding… 

● waves - light and sound 

● structure, function, and information processing 

● space symptoms - patterns and cycles 

● engineering design

Social Studies

Individually and collaboratively, students will engage in planned inquiries to investigate… 

● family life in the past 

● ways people interact with their environments 

● ways people can get along, including finding fair ways to make decisions and resolve conflicts

● public issues in the school community 

● how scarcity and choice impact decisions

Specials

Art

The KPS Art program supports creativity, self-expression, and skill development through hands-on learning and exposure to a variety of artistic tools and techniques. 

Students learn class rules, procedures, and routines to establish a safe and respectful learning environment. They explore basic color theory, geometric shapes, and the elements of design. Through exposure to multiple forms of art, mediums, and tools, students begin developing strong artistic habits and an understanding that art is an important part of our world, both past and present.

Music

The KPS Music program offers all students from a rich and engaging experience grounded in Music Learning Theory. Music instruction emphasizes how children naturally learn music in a way similar to how they acquire language. 

Students experience music through a variety of songs and chants in different tonalities and meters. Learning is playful and exploratory, involving steady beat activities, movement, and the use of classroom instruments such as shakers, drums, woodblocks, and xylophones. These early experiences lay the foundation for musical understanding and expression.

Physical Education

The KPS Physical Education (PE) program is designed to help students build essential skills through a wide variety of activities that promote fitness, teamwork, and fun. 

Students develop motor skills through  running, dribbling, passing, catching, and various fitness challenges. They learn fundamental concepts of soccer and basketball and enjoy creative games like Rainbow Tag and Rock, Paper, Scissors variations. The year concludes with Field Day - an exciting celebration where students showcase their skills, support one another, and enjoy friendly outdoor competition.

STEM

The KPS Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program provides students with hands-on learning experiences that inspire creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking through real-world exploration. 

Students are introduced to STEM through engaging, age-appropriate activities that build foundational skills in problem-solving, collaboration, and exploration. They work with a variety of materials and tools to investigate simple challenges, begin experimenting with basic technology, and discover how STEM connects to the world around them - all in a fun, supportive environment that encourages learning through trial and error.