First Grade
Overview
First grade is an important year of growth as students build upon the foundations established in Kindergarten and begin taking greater responsibility for their learning.
At Oasis Christian Academy, first-grade students learn in an engaging, Christ-centered environment that combines direct instruction, hands-on learning, small-group activities, independent practice, and meaningful interaction with teachers and classmates. Students are encouraged to become more confident readers, writers, mathematicians, thinkers, and problem-solvers while developing greater independence and responsibility.
OCA utilizes BJU Press curriculum throughout the first-grade academic program, providing rigorous, age-appropriate instruction taught through a Biblical worldview. Biblical truth is intentionally integrated throughout academics and classroom life as students continue developing spiritually, intellectually, physically, emotionally, and socially.

Bible
Using BJU Press Bible curriculum, students develop a greater understanding of God's Word through age-appropriate study of significant people, events, and teachings throughout Scripture.
Students learn about God's character, His work throughout Scripture, the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and what it means to follow Him. Bible instruction encourages students to apply Biblical principles such as obedience, honesty, kindness, forgiveness, responsibility, and love for God and others to their everyday lives.
Scripture memory, prayer, worship, and Biblical application are important components of the first-grade experience.

Phonics & Reading
Using BJU Press English Language Arts curriculum, first-grade students continue developing the foundational skills necessary to become confident and increasingly independent readers.
Instruction develops phonemic and phonological awareness, phonics, decoding, vocabulary, fluency, and reading comprehension. Students encounter age-appropriate literature and informational texts while learning to identify important details, understand characters and events, make connections, draw conclusions, and communicate their understanding.
Direct instruction is complemented by guided practice, small-group learning, independent reading, and other literacy activities.

Mathematics
Using BJU Press Mathematics, first-grade students develop number sense, mathematical reasoning, and problem-solving skills through direct instruction, hands-on activities, manipulatives, guided practice, and independent application.
Students build foundational skills in addition, subtraction, place value, measurement, time, money, data, fractions, geometry, and introductory multiplication concepts while learning to explain their mathematical thinking and apply mathematics to everyday situations.

Language Arts & Writing
Through BJU Press English Language Arts curriculum, first-grade students develop the foundational skills necessary to communicate effectively through speaking and writing. Zaner-Bloser Handwriting is used to provide systematic handwriting instruction and help students develop proper letter formation, legibility, spacing, and appropriate handwriting habits.
Students strengthen grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, and sentence development while learning to create organized pieces of writing for different purposes.
Students are introduced to the writing process and learn to plan, draft, review, edit, and improve their work with age-appropriate guidance and support.

Science
Using BJU Press Science, students explore God's creation through observation, questioning, investigation, and hands-on learning.
Students explore age-appropriate concepts related to living things, plants and animals, the human body, matter, Earth and space, forces and motion, and other areas of the natural world.
Science instruction encourages curiosity and critical thinking while helping students recognize the order, complexity, and wonder of God's creation.

Social Studies
Using BJU Press Social Studies, first-grade students develop a greater understanding of their community, state, nation, and world through a Biblical worldview.
Students learn about significant people and events, develop foundational geography and map skills, compare life today with life in the past, explore American symbols and traditions, and begin developing an understanding of citizenship, government, responsibility, and community.
Students are encouraged to recognize God's sovereignty throughout history and understand their responsibility to demonstrate respect, compassion, service, and good citizenship.

By the End of First Grade, Students Will: