Literature Foundation
First grade literature introduces students to the world's greatest stories, focusing on tales that celebrate courage, honesty, hard work, and individual achievement. Through carefully selected books, children develop vocabulary, comprehension skills, and most importantly, a love for stories that inspire them to be their best selves.
Year-End Literature Goals
- Listen actively to stories read aloud for 15-20 minutes
- Identify story elements including characters, setting, and plot
- Retell familiar stories in proper sequence with key details
- Make predictions about what will happen next in stories
- Connect stories to real life and personal experiences
- Discuss character traits and why characters make certain choices
- Express preferences for different types of stories and explain why
36-Week Literature Curriculum
First Quarter (Weeks 1-9): Fairy Tales and Folk Stories
Week 1: The Three Little Pigs
Hard work and preparation pay off, building strong foundations
Week 2: The Little Red Hen
Personal responsibility, earning rewards through effort
Week 3: The Tortoise and the Hare
Persistence and steady effort overcome natural talent without work
Week 4: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Respecting others' property, consequences of poor choices
Week 5: The Gingerbread Man
Overconfidence and boasting can lead to trouble
Week 6: Jack and the Beanstalk
Courage in facing challenges, making the best of situations
Week 7: The Ugly Duckling
Everyone has unique value, not judging by appearances
Week 8: The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Honesty and trustworthiness, consequences of lying
Week 9: Cinderella
Kindness and hard work are rewarded, inner beauty matters most
Second Quarter (Weeks 10-18): American Folk Heroes
Week 10: Johnny Appleseed
Generosity and caring for the environment, planting for the future
Week 11: Paul Bunyan
American frontier spirit, working hard to build the country
Week 12: John Henry
Strength, determination, and pride in one's work
Week 13: Pecos Bill
Resourcefulness and adapting to challenges in the Wild West
Week 14: Betsy Ross
Patriotism and contributing to American independence
Week 15: George Washington Carver
Scientific curiosity and helping farmers succeed
Week 16: Annie Oakley
Skill, practice, and breaking barriers for women
Week 17: Daniel Boone
Exploration, courage, and opening new frontiers
Week 18: Pocahontas
Bridge-building between cultures, courage to do what's right
Third Quarter (Weeks 19-27): Classic Children's Literature
Week 19: Make Way for Ducklings
Family protection, community helpers, urban wildlife
Week 20: Corduroy
Friendship, acceptance, and being grateful for what we have
Week 21: The Story of Ferdinand
Being true to yourself, peaceful nature vs. expectations
Week 22: Madeline
Bravery in facing fears, leadership and courage
Week 23: The Little Engine That Could
Positive thinking and determination overcome obstacles
Week 24: Frog and Toad Stories
True friendship, helping each other, enjoying simple pleasures
Week 25: The Giving Tree
Generosity and gratitude, appreciating what others do for us
Week 26: Where the Wild Things Are
Imagination and adventure, the comfort of home and family
Week 27: Charlotte's Web (selections)
Friendship, loyalty, and the cycle of life
Fourth Quarter (Weeks 28-36): Poetry and Independent Reading
Week 28: Mother Goose Rhymes
Rhythm, rhyme, and traditional nursery songs
Week 29: Robert Louis Stevenson Poems
"A Child's Garden of Verses" - imagination and childhood wonder
Week 30: Nature Poetry
Poems about animals, seasons, and the outdoors
Week 31: Patriotic Songs and Poems
American songs, flag poems, and celebrating our country
Week 32: Dr. Seuss Favorites
Fun with language, rhyme patterns, and silly stories
Week 33: Choose Your Own Adventure
Students select books from classroom library for independent reading
Week 34: Book Reports and Sharing
Students present favorite books and recommend to classmates
Week 35: Author Study
Learning about favorite authors and illustrators
Week 36: Celebration of Reading
Reading achievements, summer reading plans, bookmarks
Our Literature Philosophy
Character-Building Stories
We choose literature that showcases virtues like courage, honesty, perseverance, and kindness through engaging characters.
Cultural Literacy
Students learn classic tales and references that form the foundation of American cultural knowledge.
Active Listening and Discussion
Literature time includes rich conversation about stories, helping students think deeply about what they hear.
Joy in Stories
Above all, we want students to fall in love with stories and develop a lifelong passion for reading.