First/Second Grade Curriculum
In order to accommodate our multi-age class, we follow a two year rotating curriculum cycle. This allows students to continue working on new projects and learn new material even though they remain in the same classroom for two years. Multi-age classes provide a unique opportunity for students to teach and learn from one-another. Students learn and challenge themselves at their own level and pace through three project-based units each year. Projects are student centered, so the children have ownership of their own education, making decisions and studying their own inquiries. We also strive to educate the whole-child, with social lessons each week and time for reflection. Read about some of the projects from our curriculum below or click the Curriculum Map tab for more information.
We are on YEAR TWO curriculum this year (2017-2018)! See below major themes!
We are on YEAR TWO curriculum this year (2017-2018)! See below major themes!
Year One Curriculum:
Our first unit focuses on biology and engineering. Students research and study the animal for which their class is named. As always at the start of the year, we focus on building community and creating classroom rules to protect our student rights. In doing so, we make connections to the U.S. Constitution. Students also review the needs of living things as they design experiments to manipulate the needs of plants. Our big project at the end of the unit is a garden improvement project. Students think critically and delve into engineering as they design and create a structure to solve a problem in our school garden.
Our next big unit is Motion and Magnets. Students study and draw conclusions about properties that effect motion as they build objects to balance, spin, and roll. Students design carts with wheel and axle systems which they use to experiment with rolling, magnetism, force, and gravity. Final projects for this unit will largely be based on student interest and inquiry. The third unit has a global focus. Students learn about weather and consider how it effects the environment. They measure, record and observe weather, analyze their findings, and use maps to compare weather patterns in different parts of the world. Students also examine their own culture and prepare presentations for the class. We will use world maps to show a variety of data related to weather, culture, economics, and resources. Again, our final projects will be student driven. |
Year Two Curriculum:
The first unit is focused on the needs of living things, and the ways in which a community or habitat helps to meet those needs. Thinking how all parts are connected in an ecosystem. Students experiment with reading and creating maps as they study their school community, home community, and downtown Iowa City. Students also research and create models to demonstrate the habitat of a specific animal.
Our second unit provides students with opportunities to compare and contrast things from the past to the present and future. Students select a topic to research based on interest and use primary and secondary sources to prepare a Then and Now presentation. Previous topics included Willowwind, boats, homes, fashion, and television. Students also study earth materials and the ways the earth changes over time. The third unit is about life cycles and our responsibilities as positive, global citizens. Students raise butterflies and observe their lifecycle while researching other life cycles. Through discussion, students decide that they want to make a positive impact over the course of their life cycle. They choose a stewardship project or sustainability project to design and implement. Previous students created a bird habitat on campus to provide a safe place for birds to live and for students to observe. |