How to Homeschool First Grade ~ What Do I REALLY Need to Teach?
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A few years ago, I wrote a post detailing what kindergarten students are expected to learn. It was pretty popular, and people have asked if I would write a similar post about how to homeschool first grade.
Wish granted!
To create this list of things students need to learn in first grade, I consulted a few state learning standards. These are the standards of learning that teachers use to create lesson plans. You can always Google your specific state’s learning objectives, but I used:
North Carolina – Standard Course of Study
Massachusetts – Curriculum Framework
I started to research the first-grade standards in other states, but found that the same learning objectives were pretty consistent.
Please know that, unless your state requirements say otherwise, you have the ultimate say in what you teach. Public school goals do not have to be homeschool goals. However, some homeschool parents find it useful to take note of what is being taught in public schools.
You can teach more than what is on this list.
You can teach less than what is on this list.
Homeschooling allows you to move at your student’s pace.
What Do I REALLY Need to Teach to Homeschool First Grade?
Keep in mind that these are goals to reach by the end of the year. Your first grader is not expected to be able to do all of this when they reach first grade. It is okay to go at your own pace.
Language Arts
- Retell stories, including all key details, important characters, and major events
- Identify words and phrases in stories and poems that appeal to emotions
- Identify characteristics of folktales and fairytales
- Explain fiction and nonfiction
- Identify the point of view
- Compare and contrast characters and their experiences in a story
- Identify key facts in nonfiction
- Use capitalization and end sentences with punctuation
- Use uppercase and lowercase letters appropriately
- Use commas in dates and to separate words in a series
- Print legibly
- Read consonant blends in single-syllable words
- Identify initial, medial vowel, and final letter sounds (phonemes) for single-syllable words
- Spell common consonant digraphs
- Know final -e and vowel teams that make long vowel sounds
- Break two-syllable words into syllables
- Identify frequently occurring root words
- Read and understand on-level text
- Write in complete sentences
- Use singular and plural nouns with matching verbs in sentences
- Write opinion pieces
- Write an informative text with a topic sentence, facts, and a closure
- Write a narrative that includes at least two events
Math
- Solve addition and subtraction word problems, within 20, with
unknowns, by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the
unknown number to represent the problem - Understand the commutative and associative properties
- Add and subtract within 20
- Use a number line
- Determine the unknown number in an addition or subtraction equation involving three whole numbers
- Count to 150
- Read, write, and represent with objects numerals 0 – 120
- Understand place value – tens place and ones place in two-digit numbers
- Compare two digit numbers using >, <, and =
- Mentally add and subtract ten from a two-digit number
- Add, within 100, in the following situations:
• A two-digit number and a one-digit number
• A two-digit number and a multiple of 10 - Subtract multiples of 10 in the range of 10-90
- Order three objects by length
- Measure lengths with nonstandard units
- Tell time to the hour and the half-hour using analog and digital clocks
- Identify quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies
- Find equivalent values for coins (ex. 5 nickels = 1 quarter)
- Add coins up to 100 cents
- Organize and interpret data with up to three categories
- Build and draw triangles, rectangles, squares, trapezoids,
hexagons, and circles - Build 3-D shapes – cubes, rectangular prisms, cones, spheres, and cylinders
- Create composite shapes
- Divide circles and rectangles into two and four equal pieces
Science
- Understand how forces (push and pull) affect the motion of an object
- Recognize the moon’s phases
- Observe seasonal patterns of change
- Identify Earth materials (rocks, water, and soils)
- Compare the properties of different types of soil, relating their capacity to
retain water, nourish, and support the growth of certain plants - Recognize the needs of plants and animals
- Identify ways humans can care for their environment
- Recognize that vibrating materials create sound, and that sound can cause vibrations
- Use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to send a signal over a distance (ex. string and cup ‘phones’)
Social Studies
- Demonstrate an understanding of facts versus opinions
- Identify information surrounding primary and secondary sources, including who created them and why
- Identify cultural practices and traditions locally and around the world
- Understand how communities make rules and laws
- Explain the qualities of a good citizen
- Identify strategies people can use to improve their communities
- Understand the relationship between scarcity and limited resources
- Recognize the relationship between supply and demand
- Distinguish a renewable resource from a nonrenewable resource
- Define products and services
- Summarize why people trade goods and services
- Identify landforms around the world using a globe and a map
- Understand the symbols on maps
- Understand that the experiences and achievements of people throughout history have contributed to change
- Describe the qualities of a good leader
- Analyze examples of leaders from history
- Explain the ways people can become citizens of the United States
- Recognize United States symbols, mottos, and songs
- Use positional and directional words
- Identify the needs of a family
How to Homeschool First Grade
Every homeschool is unique, and you have a lot of flexibility in how you homeschool first grade.
There are a few ways to homeschool first grade.
Purchase a curriculum
Some families prefer to purchase one curriculum that covers all of the typical subjects. This is usually referred to as a boxed curriculum or a full curriculum. This is certainly a valid option!
My personal preference is to choose individual curricula for each content area. This would mean a math curriculum, another for language arts (sometimes broken down by reading, writing, and spelling), something for history, and another curriculum for science.
Selecting one curriculum for each subject lets us customize the education for each child. It allows us to challenge strengths while supporting weaknesses.
Unless you have an elementary education background, I recommend purchasing at least a reading or phonics curriculum and a math first grade curriculum.
Laying down a strong foundation in these subjects is pretty important from a young age. Reading skills and math skills tend to build on the previous year’s lessons.
I consider a science curriculum and a history curriculum optional in first grade. That does not mean I don’t think these subjects are important or that they shouldn’t be taught. I just think that it is okay to follow a first grader’s interests instead of a set program.
Use these tips to choose your 1st grade homeschool curriculum.
There are quite a few homeschool curriculum choices available.
Unit studies
Unit studies can be an excellent way to homeschool first grade science and history. This lets you capitalize on the interests of your young children.
When my children were in elementary ages I planned science and history unit studies in 4 – 6 week increments. Sometimes they were related to a specific interest, sometimes they were related to what we had going on in life, and sometimes they were topics my husband and I chose.
Teaching through unit studies gives you the flexibility to incorporate events and resources in your area.
For example, when my family moved to Washington, we learned that there was a Nordic history museum relatively close. This museum lent out educational kits with kid-friendly resources. Suddenly, it was the perfect opportunity to learn about Vikings.
Unit studies are also a great way to teach more than one grade level at a time. I taught my kids (3 years apart) history and science together until the middle school years.
Many of the first grade science and history learning standards can fit a variety of topics.
Related: How to Create a Unit Study on ANY Topic
Personalize it
Homeschool is different from public school. You have the freedom to completely personalize it.
No two homeschools have to look exactly the same. Add in things that are important to your family. This is also a great way to add in some fun subject areas that don’t fit neatly into core subjects.
Some ideas to personalize your first grade homeschool include:
- Go on field trips (My family had “Field Trip Friday” when my kids were little.)
- Try art projects, classes, or clubs
- Join a book club
- Get outside for a nature study
- Learn a foreign language together
- Go on weekly trips to the local library for new picture books
- Include online courses
One way to personalize your first grade homeschool year is to ask your 1st grader what they would like to learn. This can give you some great ideas while also giving your child ownership over their education.
I hope this helps you feel confident to homeschool first grade. The early years can be so much fun!
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