Ready to homeschool First Grade? Whether you’re brand new to homeschooling or an experienced homeschooler, I’m happy you are here.
My goal is to take the guess work and expense out of homeschooling First Grade by providing free how-to videos, organization checklists, supply lists, and detailed daily workplans so you can homeschool using the free, high-quality Core Knowledge First Grade curriculum and MEP Math Year 2 curriculum.
Free High-Quality Homeschool Curriculum
MEP Math and Core Knowledge are both excellent, academically strong curriculums you can use to provide your student with a high-quality education at home. While both curriculums were originally developed for use in classroom settings, I’ve put together how-to videos, organization checklists, supply lists, and daily schedules so you can successfully use both of these curriculums to homeschool. All of my support resources are free and available here on my website.
MEP Math was developed in Europe and is provided free by the Center for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching. All lesson plans, worksheets, and supporting materials can be downloaded for free from their website and curriculum is available for preschool through high school. Click here to see instructions for downloading the Year 2 curriculum for homeschooling.
Core Knowledge is a free curriculum developed and provided by the Core Knowledge Foundation in the United States. Their comprehensive curriculum covers language arts, social studies, and science. They are also in the process of developing a math curriculum! Click here to see instructions for downloading the First Grade curriculum for homeschooling.
What Your Student Will Learn in First Grade?
Your student will be learning to work more confidently with numbers and make great strides with their reading and spelling skills plus add on grammar and composition. They’ll hear famous stories including fairy tales, Aesop’s fables, poetry, and compare similar stories across different cultures of the world. In history they’ll be inspired by famous people and events and in science they’ll dig deeper into how the world works.
First Grade Math
For math you will be using the free MEP Math Year 2 curriculum. Your student will learn to use addition and subtraction with numbers in the hundreds, use and begin to remember multiplication facts up to 10×10, factor numbers, use simple units of money and capacity measurements, as well as identify shapes and lines of symmetry.
First Grade Language Arts
The First Grade language arts curriculum from Core Knowledge encompasses a wide range of subjects including reading, spelling, penmanship, grammar, language mechanics, composition, literature, vocabulary, and so much more. Your student will learn to read and spell more complex words, write short compositions, learn the basic parts of speech and sentence structure, and be exposed to fiction, drama, and poetry. They will hear wonderful stories including fairy tales and Aesop’s fables, as well as have an opportunity to learn and compare similar stories from different cultures around the world.
First Grade Social Studies
For social studies your student will be studying history and geography. In the Core Knowledge History and Geography curriculum your student will be improving their spacial sense including use of map keys, legends, directions and geographical terms. They’ll also study world history including the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt, be introduced to three major world religions, and the modern geography and culture of Mexico. In U.S. history they will learn about the earliest people to live in North, Central, and South America including the Maya, the Aztecs, and the Inca. They’ll also study the European Explorers of the late 15th century and the initial colonies established in North America. The key figures and events from the American Revolution and the exploration of the American West will also be introduced.
First Grade Science
In the Core Knowledge Science curriculum, your student will learn about the wonders of living things and their environments, the human body, properties of matter, how electricity works, basic astronomy, and the the geographic features and composition of the earth. They will also be introduced to scientists such as Rachel Carson, Thomas Edison, Edward Jenner, and Louis Pasteur.
Ready to Start Homeschooling First Grade?
I’ve done the organization and scheduling work for you! Get up and running homeschooling First Grade using Core Knowledge and MEP math.
- Master Checklist to Start Homeschooling First Grade
- School Supply List for First Grade
- Daily Schedule for First Grade
- Overview & Preparation Guides
- First Grade Math: Organization & Prep Guide
- First Grade Language Arts Listening & Learning: Organization Guide and Unit-Specific Prep Checklist
- First Grade Language Arts Skills: Organization Guide and Unit-Specific Prep Checklist
- First Grade History & Geography: Organization Guide and Unit-Specific Prep Checklist
- First Grade Science: Organization Guide
The Core Knowledge Foundation is a non-profit organization and has generously made their curriculum free to download. If you are able to, please consider making a donation to support their ongoing curriculum development efforts.
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Core Knowledge, CKLA, CKHG, and CKSci are registered marks of the Core Knowledge Foundation
Amplify is a registered mark of Amplify Education, Inc.
MEP Math has been made available through the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching