Objectives for this term (December through June)

I'm going to start this term a little early this time because of some personal things that are coming up. Anyway, everything listed here is first grade, except there are a couple of things to finish from kindergarden and we'll be in second grade with science. Here it is though...

English/Reading/Writing

1. We will work on understanding the difference between a consonant and a vowel.
2. We will begin to recognize action words (introduction to verbs).
3. We will learn what our site words are and how to spell them from memory.
4. We will work on starting to read.
5. We will spend time theme journaling. Herein we will move from scribbling to inventive spelling. We will start to put on paper what looks like what we want to say. Also, we will begin to express our ideas in writing.

Social Studies

1. We will know what each coin's value is.
2. We will look at the various community helpers: police, mailman, fireman and anything else that the library's concept kits contains. (I'll update this objective later.)
3. We will learn when our family's birthdays are (mommy and self).
4. We will learn our own home address and phone number.
5. We will know what the difference between city state and country is.
6. We will look at rural, sububran, urban, neighborhoods and regions.
7. We will look at some generational changes.
8. We will look at the countries of Canada (North America), Mexico (South America) and Japan.
9. We will define what a limited resource is then identify them so that we can learn how to conserve them.
10. We will look at the important political figures throughout US history.
11. We will begin working with maps and globes so that we can identify different land masses (North and South America), oceans, Japan, the US, our state, Hawaii and Alaska are.
12. We will start to look at how different holidays are celebrated around the world. (This may continue next year as it most likely will not be accomplished this year as I've already put together a unit study about Christmas symbols.)

Science/Health

1. We will learn how to tie our shoes. (I know this is a carry over from kindergarden but my daughter is delayed in some of her motor skills.)
2. We will learn to identify and express our emotions properly.
3. We will learn to recognize environments and habitats including: desert, rainforest, grassland, and any more that I can find to do lapbooks with at HandsOfAChild.com We will learn what kinds of plants and animals live there.
4. We will work on learning about prediction. One book that I'd like to use is Mouse Tales by Arnold Lobel.
5. We will learn about our body including: skeletal system, muscle system, and skin; circulatory system; digestive system and teeth; respiratory system and voice; nervous system and genes; healthy lifestyle, eating healthy and exercising properly
6. We will learn about insects: their essential characteristics, habitat and developmental stages.
7. We will begin to learn how to use a thermometer.
8. After we learn to tell time we will measure the length of a minute.
9. I'd like to try to find a couple of magazines once in a while including: Ranger Rick, Zillions, Zoo Book, Your Big Backyard or Kids Discover
10. We will work with measurement including length, height and width. Some books that I'd like to use here are:

• Amelia Bedilia by Peggy Parish
• Animal Alphabet by Bert Kitchen
• Mouse Tales by Arnold Lobel
• Much Bigger Than Martin by Steven Kellogg
• Mushrooms In The Rain by Mirra Ginsburg
• Two Greedy Bears by Mirra Ginsbur
• Who Sank The Boat? by Pamela Allen

Math/Problem Solving

1. We will solidify the topics of addition and subtraction.
2. We will work with graphing some more. (2 books that I'd like to borrow from the library to use here are Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina & Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel. I'm really going to have to search for some other ideas though. Anyone have any to share?)
3. We will continue to work on being able to tell the time (at least to the hour and half hour). (Some books that I'd like to use here are:

• The Apple Pie Year by Zoe Hall
• A Busy Year by Leo Lionni
• Chicken Soup With Rice by Maurice Sendak
• The Completed Hickory Dickory Dock by Jim Aylesworth
• The Napping House by Audrey Wood
• Nine O'Clock Lullaby by Marilyn Singer
• The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons
• Telling Time With Big Mama Cat by Don Harper)

4. I also plan on introducing geometric shapes. We have worked on this before but it could use some review. I will use these books for this purpose:

• Changes Changes by Pat Hutchins
• Color Farm by Lois Ehlert
• Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert
• Freight Train by Donald Crews
• Round and Round and Round by Tana Hoban
• The Secret Birthday Message by Eric Carle