1st grade · Kindergarten to Grade 5

What Should a 1st Grader Know?

Nobody can tell you what every 1st grade student knows; students differ, and so do states. What we can tell you exactly is what we teach. Below is the whole 1st grade list: 61 topics in eight subjects, in the order we teach them, each with the standard it addresses. It is a plan, not a test and not a legal standard — if your student is ahead in one subject and behind in another, that is ordinary.

61 topics8 subjects6373 questions

Math

8 topics384 questionsSubject page

1. Addition and subtraction within 20Strategies, fact families, word problems1.OA
2. Place value: tens and onesTwo-digit numbers, comparing with <, =, >1.NBT.B
3. Adding within 100Add tens and ones; 10 more and 10 less1.NBT.C
4. Measuring lengthOrder objects; measure with same-size units1.MD.A
5. Telling timeHours and half hours1.MD.B
6. Shapes and fair sharesHalves and fourths of circles and rectangles1.G
7. Counting and writing to 120Count to 120 from any number; read and write numerals past 1001.NBT.A
8. Sorting data into three groupsOrganize objects into up to three categories and answer how many in all, how many more1.MD.C

Reading

8 topics904 questionsSubject page

1. Blending and segmenting soundsTell long from short vowels, blend sounds into words and break words into every soundRF.1.2
2. Decoding words with long vowelsDigraphs, final -e and vowel teams; read one-syllable wordsRF.1.3
3. Reading smoothly with expressionRead on-level text accurately and smoothly, and reread to self-correctRF.1.4
4. Retelling a story and its lessonRetell a story with key details and tell its central message or lessonRL.1.2
5. Describing characters, setting and eventsUse key details to describe characters, settings and major eventsRL.1.3
6. Main topic and key detailsIdentify the main topic of a fact text and retell its key detailsRI.1.2
7. Using text featuresUse headings, tables of contents, glossaries and icons to find factsRI.1.5
8. Asking and answering questions about key detailsAsk and answer who, what, where, when and why questions about key details in an informational textRI.1.1

English & Writing

8 topics904 questionsSubject page

1. Common, proper and possessive nounsTell naming words for any thing from special names, and show ownership with 'sL.1.1b
2. Nouns and verbs that matchUse singular and plural nouns with matching verbs: The dog runs; the dogs runL.1.1c
3. Capitalizing names and datesCapitalize names of people, days of the week and monthsL.1.2a
4. Commas in dates and listsUse commas in dates and to separate single words in a seriesL.1.2c
5. Writing to teach factsName a topic, give some facts and add a closing sentenceW.1.2
6. Opinion writing with a reasonState an opinion, give a reason and add a closing sentenceW.1.1
7. Stories with first, next and lastWrite two or more events in order using time words, with details and an endingW.1.3
8. Describing with details out loudDescribe a person, place, thing or event with relevant details and name the feeling clearlySL.1.4

Science

8 topics904 questionsSubject page

1. Sound and vibrationVibrating materials make sound, and sound can make materials vibrate1-PS4-1
2. Light through materialsTest how transparent, translucent, opaque and reflective materials affect a beam of light1-PS4-3
3. Body parts that help living thingsHow plant and animal parts help them survive, and how people copy them to solve problems1-LS1-1
4. Parents helping their youngPatterns in how parents and offspring behave that help the young survive1-LS1-2
5. Like parent, like babyYoung plants and animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents1-LS3-1
6. Sun, moon and stars patternsObserve and predict patterns of the sun, moon and stars in the sky1-ESS1-1
7. Daylight through the seasonsCompare the amount of daylight at different times of the year1-ESS1-2
8. Shape helps an object workDraw and build simple models that show how an object's shape helps it do its jobK-2-ETS1-2

History & Social Studies

8 topics904 questionsSubject page

1. Our country's symbols and what government doesIdentify US symbols such as the flag, the bald eagle and the Statue of Liberty, and name jobs government doesD2.Civ.5.K-2
2. Making decisions togetherExplain how people work together to make decisions in a classroom or family by talking, taking turns and votingD2.Civ.11.K-2
3. Making a mapDraw a simple map with a title, symbols and a map keyD2.Geo.1.K-2
4. Land and water on maps and globesUse a globe and maps to find land and water, the seven continents and five oceansD2.Geo.3.K-2
5. My timelineMake a timeline of events in order by yearD2.His.1.K-2
6. People who changed the way we liveAsk questions about inventors and helpers whose work changed daily lifeD2.His.3.K-2
7. Goods and services in my communityTell goods from services and describe ones made nearby and ones from other placesD2.Eco.4.K-2
8. How people earn incomeExplain how people earn income at jobs, name jobs done nearby and tell paid work from unpaid helpingD2.Eco.6.K-2

Life Skills

7 topics791 questionsSubject page

1. Calling 911 and safe grown-upsKnow what an emergency is, how to call 911 and which grown-ups are safe to ask for helpNHES 5
2. Healthy foods and my plateSort foods into groups and build a balanced plate with fruits, vegetables, grains and proteinNHES 7
3. Calm-down tools: breathing and countingUse belly breathing, counting and a calm spot to handle upset feelingsCASEL Self-Management
4. Empathy: how does someone else feel?Notice clues on faces and in words, imagine how others feel and respond kindlyCASEL Social Awareness
5. Following directions and routinesFollow 2- and 3-step directions and use a routine chart without remindersCASEL Self-Management
6. Earning, saving and spendingExplain how people earn money and choose between saving and spendingJump$tart Earning Income
7. Telling time to the hour for my dayTell time to the hour and half hour and plan morning and bedtime routines1.MD.B.3

Entrepreneurship & Business Thinking

7 topics791 questionsSubject page

1. What entrepreneurs doExplain that entrepreneurs see a need, have an idea and take a chance to start somethingCEE Standard 14
2. Skills it takes to make thingsDescribe the skills and tools people need to make goods and give servicesD2.Eco.3.K-2
3. Prices at the marketRead and compare prices and explain why some things cost moreD2.Eco.5.K-2
4. How people earn moneyExplain how people earn income by working and sellingD2.Eco.6.K-2
5. What it costs to make somethingList the things you must pay for to make a productD2.Eco.7.K-2
6. Working together: everyone has a jobShow how splitting jobs helps a team make moreCEE Standard 6
7. Telling people about my ideaExplain an idea clearly so others understand and get excitedCEE Standard 14

Psychology for Kids

7 topics791 questionsSubject page

1. Practice makes my brain strongerExplain that practice builds skills and makes hard things easierCASEL Self-Awareness
2. Focus and attentionUse tricks to focus and notice when my mind wandersCASEL Self-Management
3. Habits: things we do again and againSpot good habits and how habits form by repeatingCASEL Self-Management
4. Thoughts, feelings and actionsSee how what we think changes how we feel and what we doCASEL Self-Awareness
5. Seeing someone else's point of viewImagine how a situation looks from another person's sideCASEL Social Awareness
6. Being curious: asking questionsAsk good questions and enjoy wonderingCASEL Self-Awareness
7. Mistakes help my brain growSee mistakes as a normal part of learningCASEL Self-Awareness

Optional language courses

• Spanish for Kids · Level 1 · Grades K–18 topics
• Portuguese for Kids · Level 1 · Grades K–18 topics
• English for Spanish Speakers · Level 1 · Grades K–18 topics
• English for Portuguese Speakers · Level 1 · Grades K–18 topics

What one lesson contains

Every topic in every subject follows the same five steps, then an answer key. Nothing changes between subjects, so a student always knows what comes next.

1. Quick CheckQuestions before you teach, to show what the student already knows. A high score means you can move faster.
2. Learn ItKey words, step-by-step teaching with lines you can read aloud, worked examples, and the mistakes to watch for.
3. We Do It TogetherQuestions you work through side by side. The answer and the reason it is the answer are printed right after each question.
4. You TryThe student works alone. Do a page a day, or as many as the student needs.
5. Show What You KnowNew questions at the end. Compare the score with the Quick Check to see the change.
6. Answer KeyEvery question has its answer and a short explanation, at the end of each topic, so a student can work without peeking.

Other grades

• What should a kindergarten student know?
• What should a 2nd grade student know?
• What should a 3rd grade student know?
• What should a 4th grade student know?
• What should a 5th grade student know?

More

• See the whole curriculum
• Workbook store
• Frequently asked questions

Questions parents ask