First Grade Curriculum

First Grade Math

Bay County Academy uses the Chicago Math, Everyday Math series for math instruction in grades K-5. For more about our math program click here.

Grade Level Benchmarks

• I.1 Describes and analyzes patterns with multiple attributes
  I.2 Describes qualitative and quantitative change
  II.1 Identifies and compares 2-D shapes and describes their similarities and differences
  II.2 Uses vocabulary to place objects and/or describe their position
  II.3 Estimates and measures length, weight, time and capacity using non-standard units of measure. Tells time to the nearest hour. Names and identifies values of coins and bills.
  III.1 Collects and sorts data into charts and picture graphs
  III.2 Reads and interprets charts and graphs to answer questions and solve problems
  III.3 Constructs questions, collects data and makes predictions
  IV.1 Reads, writes, compares and orders numbers to 100. Counts backward and forward from 100 starting at any number. Sorts objects into groups of 10’s and 1’s and writes the numeral.
  IV.2 Represents whole numbers and fractional parts. Uses ordinal numbers to order objects.
  IV.3 Compose and decompose whole numbers
  V.1 Develops basic addition and subtraction facts
  V.2 Recognizes and represents relations using mathematical symbols
  VI.1 Uses language such as always, maybe, and never as they relate to an event
  VI.2 Sorts objects in more than one way.

First Grade English Language Arts

Bay County Academy recognizes the importance of fostering reading for enjoyment, while also teaching students to read for information. In addition it is also a priority to prepare our students to communicate orally and in written expression. We accomplish these goals using a variety of tools and methods.For more on these methods click here.

Grade Level Benchmarks

• Meaning and Communication
  ∑ Explores a wide variety of text and genre
  ∑ “Reads” variety of text with accuracy, rate and expression
  ∑ Retells main ideas and details of oral and written narrative
  ∑ Uses strategies to recognize words in isolation and in context
  ∑ Uses strategies to aid in decoding
  ∑ Focuses writing for a purpose
  ∑ Writes in a journal
  ∑ Organizes content in simple sentences
  ∑ Draw, dictate, and write lists and/stories
  ∑ Create, draft and publish different forms of writing
  ∑ Spells words in context
  ∑ Determine the meaning of the words and phrases in context
• Language
  ∑Uses language to communicate effectively with an audience
  Literature
• Voice
  ∑Discuss a variety of authors’ purpose
• Skills and Processes
  ∑Uses strategies to construct meaning
  ∑Writes using different strategies
• Genre and Craft of Language
  ∑Identifies and describes a variety of genre
  ∑Identifies story elements in text
  ∑Writes narratives with consistent characters and settings
  ∑Identifies major ideas and details in text
  ∑Identifies expository text patterns
  ∑Discusses how authors’ communicate their message
  ∑Applies knowledge of text features to locate information and construct meaning
• Depth of Understanding
  ∑ Identifies overall message or theme of text
  ∑ Identify characters, events, topics and main ideas to create deeper understanding
• Ideas in Action
  ∑Connect personal knowledge and experience to ideas in text
  ∑Extends, elaborates, and creatively represents authors’ ideas
  ∑???? S10
• Inquiry and Research
  ∑Uses appropriate resources for the task
• Critical Standards
  ∑Identifies qualities of personal and other written text
  ∑Discusses and imitates models of quality text

First Grade Science

The Science curriculum at Bay County Academy is a hands-on exploratory program that meets all of the Michigan Benchmarks and Standards. For more information on the science program click here.

Michigan Benchmarks for Elementary Science

• Science
  1.1.1 Generate reasonable questions about the world based on observation
  1.1.2 Develop solutions to unfamiliar problems through reasoning, observation and/or experiment
  1.1.3 Manipulate simple mechanical devices and explain how they work
  1.1.4 Use simple measurement devices to make metric measurement
  1.1.5 Develop strategies and skills for information gathering and problem solving
  1.1.6 Construct charts and graphs and prepare summaries of observations
  2.1.1 Develop an awareness of the need for evidence in making decisions scientifically
  2.1.2 Show how science concepts can be interpreted through creative expression such as language arts and fine arts
  2.1.3 Describe ways in which technology is used in everyday life
  2.1.4 Develop an awareness of and sensitivity to the natural world
  2.1.5 Develop an awareness of contributions made to science by people of diverse backgrounds
• Life Science
  3.1.1 Describe cells as living systems
  3.2.1 Compare and classify familiar organisms on the basis of observable physical characteristics
  3.2.2 Describe vertebrates in terms of observable body parts and characteristics
  3.2.3 Describe the cycles of familiar organisms
  3.2.4 Compare and contrast food, energy and environmental needs of selected organisms
  3.2.5 Describe functions of selected seed plants
  3.3.1 Give evidence that characteristics are passed from parents to young
  3.4.1 Explain how fossils provide evidence about the nature of ancient life
  3.4.2 Explain how physical and/or behavioral characteristics of organisms help them to survive in their environments
• Physical Science
  4.1.1 Classify common objects and substances according to observable attributes: color, size, shape, smell, hardness, texture, flexibility, length, weight, buoyancy, states of matter or magnetic properties
  4.1.2 Measure weight, dimensions and temperature of appropriate objects and materials
  4.1.3 Identify properties of materials which make them useful
  4.1.4 Identify forms of energy associated with common phenomena
  4.1.5 Describe the interaction of magnetic materials with other magnetic and non-magnetic materials
  4.1.6 Describe the interaction of charged materials with other charged or uncharged materials
  4.1.7 Describe possible electrical hazards to be avoided at home and at school
  4.2.1 Describe common physical changes in matter- size, shape, melting, freezing, dissolving
  4.2.2 Prepare mixtures and separate them into their component parts
  4.2.3 Construct simple objects that fulfill a technological purpose
  4.3.1 Describe or compare motions of common objects in terms of speed and direction
  4.3.2 Describe how forces (pushes or pulls) are needed to speed up, slow down, stop, or change direction of a moving object
  4.3.3 Use simple machines to make work easier
  4.4.1 Describe sounds in terms of their properties (pitch and loudness)
  4.4.2 Explain how sounds are made
  4.4.3 Describe light from a light source in terms of its properties
  4.4.4 Explain how light illuminates objects
  4.4.5 Explain how shadows are made
  4.5.1 Identify familiar organisms as part of a food chain or food web
  4.5.2 Explain common patterns of interdependence and interrelationships of living things
  4.5.3 Describe the basic requirements for all living things to maintain their existence
  4.5.4 Design systems that encourage growing of particular plants or animals
  4.5.5 Describe positive and negative effects of humans on the environment
• Earth Science
  5.1.1 Describe major features of the earth’s surface
  5.1.2 Recognize and describe different types of earth materials
  5.1.3 Explain how rocks and fossils are used to understand the history of the earth
  5.1.4 Describe natural changes in the Earth’s surface
  5.1.5 Describe uses of materials taken from the earth
  5.1.6 Demonstrate means to recycle manufactured materials and a disposition toward recycling
  5.2.1 Describe how water exists on earth in three states
  5.2.2 Trace the path that rain water follows after it falls
  5.2.3 Identify sources of drinking water
  5.2.4 Describe uses of water
  5.3.1 Describe the atmosphere
  5.3.2 Describe weather conditions and climates
  5.3.3 Describe seasonal changes in weather
  5.3.4 Explain appropriate safety precautions during severe weather
  5.4.1 Describe the sun, moon and earth
  5.4.2 Describe the motions of the earth and moon around the sun

First grade Social Studies

Bay County Academy proudly uses Mosaica's Paragon Curriculum to teach social studies. For more on Paragon click here.

Early Elementary Social Studies Benchmarks

• Historical Perspective
  1.1.1 Use analog and digital clocks to tell time
  1.1.2 Use weeks, months, and years as intervals of time
  1.1.3 Distinguish among the past, the present and the future
  1.1.4 Place events of their lives and the lives of others in chronological order
  1.2.1 Identify who was involved, what happened, and where it happened in stories about the past
  1.2.2 Describe the past through the eyes and experiences of those who were there as revealed through their records
  1.2.3 Recount events from simple biographies of women and men representing a variety of societies from the past
  1.2.4 Identify and explain how individuals in history demonstrated good character and personal virtue
  1.3.1 Use a variety of records to construct a narrative about their personal or family histories
  1.3.2 Differentiate between historical facts and historical interpretations
  1.3.3 Explain why accounts of the same vent differ
  1.4.1 Recall situations in their lives that required decisions and evaluate the decisions made in light of their consequences
  1.4.2 Evaluate decisions made by others as reported in stories about the past
• Geographic Perspective
  2.1.1 Describe the human characteristics of places and explain some basic causes for those characteristics
  2.1.2 Describe the natural characteristics of places and explain some basic causes for those characteristics
  2.2.1 Describe how people use the environment to meet human needs and wants
  2.2.2 Describe ways in which people have changed their environment. And ways their lives are affected by the environment
  2.2.3 Suggest ways the people can help improve the environment
  2.3.1 Identify locations of significance in their immediate environment and explain reasons for their location
  2.3.2 Identify people and places in other locations and explain their importance to the community
  2.3.3 Identify people, goods, services and ideas in their local community which have come from other places and describe why they moved
  2.4.1 Identify regions in their immediate environment and describe their characteristics and boundaries
  2.4.2 Compare their community and region with others
  2.4.3 Describe changes in the region over time as well as presently
  2.5.1 Locate and describe major world events that have an impact on their community and explain why they are important to the community
• Civic Perspective
  3.1.1 Cite examples of government carrying out its legal authority in their local community
  3.1.2 Describe consequence of not having rules
  3.2.1 Identify aspects of life at school and in the local community that illustrate justice and freedom
  3.3.1 Explain how conflicts at school or in the local community might be resolved in ways that are consistent with core democratic values
  3.4.1 Identify rules at school and in the local community and consider consequences for breaking rules
  3.4.2 Describe fair ways for groups to make decisions
  3.4.3 Describe ways that individuals influence each other
  3.5.1 Distinguish between events in this country and events abroad
  3.5.2 Recognize that events in other countries can affect Americans
• Economic Perspective
  4.1.1 Identify ways that families produce and consume goods and services
  4.1.2 List ways that individuals can conserve limited resources
  4.2.1 Connect economic needs with businesses that meet them
  4.2.2 Select a particular good or service and describe the types of resources necessary to produce and distribute it
  4.3.1 Describe a good or service provided by the local government and the method of payment
  4.3.2 Identify the goods and services their school provides and the people who provide them
  4.3.3 Identify an unmet local economic need and propose a plan to meet it
  4.4.1 Identify examples of markets they experience in their daily life
  4.4.2 Distinguish between producers and consumers in a market economy
  4.4.3 Describe how the choices they make impact business decisions
  4.5.1 Recognize economic exchanges in which they participate
  4.5.2 Identify the U.S. coin and currency denominations and describe the role of cash in the exchange of goods and services
• Inquiry
  5.1.1 Locate information using people, books, audio/video recordings, photos, simple maps, graphs and tables
  5.1.2 Acquire information from observation of the local environment
  5.1.3 Organize information to make and interpret simple maps of their local surrounding and simple graphs and tables of social data drawn from their experience
  5.2.1 Pose a question about life in their school or local community
  5.2.2 Gather and analyze information in order to answer the question posed
  5.2.3 Construct an answer to the question posed and support their answers with evidence
  5.2.4 Report the results of their investigations
• Public Discourse and Decision Making
  6.1.1 Pose a question about matters of public concern that they have encountered in school or in the local community
  6.1.2 Compare their own viewpoint about the matter raised with that of another
  6.2.1 Engage each other in conversations about issues pertaining to governing their school
  6.3.1 Compose brief statements expressing a decision on an issue in the school or local
• Citizen Involvement
  7.1.1 Help to determine, interpret and enforce school rules
  7.1.2 Participate in projects designed to help others in their local community