The Pen Ryn first grade experience consists of a literature based integrated curriculum that challenges students in academic areas. Our entire morning emphasizes language arts exercises. This incorporates reading, vocabulary development, phonics, spelling, grammar, and creative writing. We use various teaching strategies to develop creativity in their writing. Children are encouraged to use inventive, phonetic and then standard spelling in their writing. We also incorporate poetry throughout the language arts curriculum.The school year progresses through many themes including, Citizenship, Influential Americans, Holiday Traditions, Seasons, and Character Development. This is developed through individual work, cooperative groups, dramatic play and verbal presentations.

In Math, students work on addition and subtraction facts to twenty with mastery up to twelve. A variety of methods are used to develop these concepts including hands-on activities, story problems (verbal and written), math manipulatives and mental math games. The SMART board is used to introduce each lesson, as well as to reinforce skills taught throughout the year. The year progresses to double digit addition and subtraction, money, measuring in inches and centimeters, geometry and telling time to the half hour. Learning Centers are set up throughout the classroom with games and activities which reinforce skills being taught in both areas of Language Arts and Math.

Our social studies theme of our country is taught using Flat Stanley as our guide. Flat Stanley is a character in a series of chapter books in which he is flattened by a bulletin board and travels around to different areas in a large envelope. The children begin in the fall by meeting Flat Stanley and then showing him all around their community. After several weeks, they create a project to share with the rest of the class about their adventures with Stanley. From there Stanley gets mailed out all over the country to the student’s friends and relatives. When he gets mailed back to us, each child has their own map to track where Stanley has been.
In Science we study Life cycles of Animals and Insects, Earth Science, and Physical Science. We end the year with a study of the five senses which culminates into a Sensory Fair. We create a center for each of the five senses, and the children rotate with their parents to each center.

Another exciting aspect of first grade is incorporating field trips into our curriculum. Our study of animal classification takes us to a local veterinary clinic and to the Philadelphia Zoo. In conjunction with our literature units, we attend the theater. We end the year with a day of fishing, mini golf, and a picnic.

First graders also look forward to our Sixth Grade Buddy Program. They also enjoy Art, Music, Physical Education, Computers, Science, Spanish and Library. The children work on Math and Language Arts skills using Netbooks once a week.