Letters & reading
1st gradeFinding the Last Sound in a Word
Listen for the final sound in familiar spoken words, compare examples, and adapt the activity with pictures, objects, or a communication device.
17 min readFOR THE GROWN-UPS BEHIND THE LITTLE EXPLORERS
Grade 1
Grade 1. Practical activities for children ages 6–7: letters, counting, shapes, colors, science, and social learning, with examples and tips for parents.
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120 guides to explore
Letters & reading
1st gradeShort Vowel Listening with Picture Pairs
Compare familiar English words that differ in a vowel sound using clear picture pairs, adult modeling, and accessible choices.
17 min read
Letters & reading
1st gradeBuilding CVC Words with Paper Tiles
Make paper letter tiles, build simple consonant-vowel-consonant words, change one sound at a time, and support the child's choices.
17 min readLetters & reading
1st gradeDigraph Detective: Two Letters, One Sound
Explore how sh and ch can represent single speech sounds with word cards, sorting, spelling, and specific checks for common mix-ups.
19 min read
Letters & reading
1st gradeHigh-Frequency Word Practice in a Tiny Sentence
Teach a common word in short, meaningful sentences with explicit attention to its sounds, spelling, and use in context.
17 min readLetters & reading
1st gradeMaking a Missing-Letter Puzzle That Has One Answer
Make a missing-letter puzzle with a clear clue and one intended answer among the offered choices, then check the word's spelling and meaning.
18 min readLetters & reading
1st gradeFirst-Grade Word Families with a Paper House
Build and compare familiar -at word-family examples with a paper house, letter cards, spoken sounds, and checks for meaning.
18 min read
Letters & reading
1st gradeCompound Words with Two Picture Cards
Build familiar compound words from two picture cards, explore how their meanings relate to their parts, and check the written spelling.
18 min readLetters & reading
1st gradeSorting Words by Their First Letter
Sort familiar printed words by their initial letter, check the sorting rule, and compare letter names with beginning sounds.
17 min readLetters & reading
1st gradeRetelling a Story with Three Simple Pictures
Use three pictures to retell a short story in order, connect the events, and distinguish the story from an invented ending.
17 min readLetters & reading
1st gradeSentence Building with Who, Does, and What Cards
Make picture cards for a person, an action, and an object; use complete examples, conversation prompts, and troubleshooting to build and revise sentences together.
19 min readLetters & reading
1st gradeReading Punctuation with Expression
Explore periods, question marks, and exclamation marks in short sentences, using meaning and punctuation to guide an expressive read-aloud.
17 min readLetters & reading
1st gradeChoosing a Just-Right Shared Reading Challenge
Choose a shared-reading task by observing the text, the child's goals, and the support available, then adjust the task with concrete evidence.
17 min read
Numbers & math
1st gradeCounting On from a Known Number
Practice counting on from a known quantity when objects are added, with concrete checks, common errors, and variations.
17 min read
Numbers & math
1st gradeNumber Lines Made from Floor Tiles
Build a floor number line with evenly spaced labels, use steps to model small changes, and distinguish positions from intervals.
17 min readNumbers & math
1st gradeSkip Counting by Twos with Paired Socks
Count pairs of socks by twos, connect each number to a complete pair, and check totals when a sock is left over.
17 min readNumbers & math
1st gradeSkip Counting by Fives with Hand Outlines
Count groups of five with hand outlines, check each group, and distinguish the number of outlines from the number of represented fingers.
17 min read
Numbers & math
1st gradeTens and Ones with Bundled Paper Strips
Bundle ten paper strips as one ten, represent two-digit numbers with tens and ones, and exchange a bundle without changing the total.
17 min readNumbers & math
1st gradeTeen Numbers as Ten and Some More
Build numbers from eleven to nineteen as ten and additional ones, connect the model to numerals, and check common mix-ups.
17 min readNumbers & math
1st gradeEqual Sharing with Crayons
Share crayons equally among recipients, check each share, and explore what a leftover means under an explicit rule.
17 min read
Numbers & math
1st gradeDoubles Facts with Matching Towers
Build matching towers to model doubles, count the whole, and connect equal groups to addition equations.
17 min readNumbers & math
1st gradeMeasuring Length with Equal Paper Clips
Measure a straight length with equal paper clips placed end to end, record the unit, and compare results without gaps or overlaps.
17 min read
Numbers & math
1st gradeReading Whole Hours on a Homemade Clock
Make a paper clock and read whole-hour times by checking the minute hand at 12 and the hour hand at the named hour.
17 min read
Numbers & math
1st gradeMaking a Simple Picture Graph of Family Choices
Collect a small set of choices, make a picture graph with a clear key, and answer questions supported by the recorded data.
17 min read