What your child learns in Grade 1 in BC
Grade 1 is where reading, writing and number sense start to grow quickly. Children connect letters to sounds, read short books, write simple sentences and work with numbers to 20 and beyond.
Grade 1 subjects in the BC Curriculum
Math
Big Ideas
- Numbers to 20 represent quantities that can be decomposed into 10s and 1s.
- Addition and subtraction with numbers to 10 can be modelled concretely, pictorially, and symbolically to develop computational fluency.
- Repeating elements in patterns can be identified.
10 units, including numbers to 20, make 10, adding, take away.
English Language Arts
Big Ideas
- Language and story can be a source of creativity and joy.
- Stories and other texts help us learn about ourselves and our families.
- Stories and other texts can be shared through pictures and words.
9 units, including blend it, short vowels, word families, sh, ch, th.
Science
Big Ideas
- Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment.
- Matter is useful because of its properties.
- Light and sound can be produced and their properties can be changed.
5 units, including living things, animal survival, materials, light & sound.
Social Studies
Big Ideas
- We shape the local environment, and the local environment shapes who we are and how we live.
- Our communities are diverse and made of individuals who have a lot in common.
- Healthy communities recognize and respect the diversity of individuals and care for the local environment.
4 units, including my community, different & alike, our land, maps.
French Immersion
Big Ideas
- Communicating in French fosters a sense of belonging to the Francophone community.
- As our vocabulary increases, so does our ability to make ourselves understood.
- Our ability to communicate in a new language improves as we take risks in that language.
7 units, including je me présente, majuscule et point, est-ce que…?, les verbes d'action.
What to look for on the report card
Look for comments on reading simple texts, spelling common words, counting and adding, and taking part in class.
BC report cards describe learning with Emerging, Developing, Proficient, Extending. See what each level means.
Core Competencies are part of every grade. Read about core competencies.
Ready for Grade 1?
Grade 1 builds on what your child practised in Kindergarten. If a skill feels shaky, a few short practice sessions before or early in the year can help:
- Math: count to 10, make 5 and 10, add & take away, more, less, same, patterns
- English Language Arts: letter partners, first sounds, rhyme time, clap the beat, sight words
- Science: what living things need, animal features, materials, push & pull, weather & seasons
- Social Studies: all about me, families, needs & wants, helpers & rules
- French Immersion: bonjour et merci, mes premiers mots, les lettres, le son du début, les syllabes
Common questions
What do kids learn in Grade 1 in British Columbia?
Grade 1 covers math, english language arts, science, social studies, french immersion in the BC Curriculum. Grade 1 is where reading, writing and number sense start to grow quickly. Children connect letters to sounds, read short books, write simple sentences and work with numbers to 20 and beyond.
How is Grade 1 reported in BC?
BC report cards describe learning with Emerging, Developing, Proficient, Extending.
How can I help my Grade 1 child at home?
Short, regular practice works better than long sessions: 10 to 15 minutes a few times a week, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Read together, use math in real life, and praise effort.
Practise Grade 1 skills with Gradelings
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