Core Knowlege Curriculum Grade 1 Materials

The Core Knowledge Foundation (www.coreknowledge.org) provides open access to content-rich curriculum materials for preschool through grade 8, including the Core Knowledge Curriculum Series™. This material includes learning materials for language arts, history and geography, and science. Please read the Terms of Use. for using materials from the CKLA Free Download Manager.

The Research Foundation for Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA)

Terms of Use

The materials made available for download are freely available for anyone to use, adapt, and share (with attribution), but no one is permitted to sell either the original program, an adaptation of it, or lesson plans that reproduce any part of it.See the Guidelines to Core Knowledge and the Creative Commons License

Grade 1 Language Arts

CKLA Ancillary Materials: Grade 1 Skills

The following ancillary components are used to support instruction in various units throughout the Grade 1 Skills strand:

Teacher Components

Student Conponent

CKLA Ancillary Materials: Grade 1 Skills

Consonant Flip Book: Grade 1 Ancillary Materials
The Consonant Code Flip Book is used to introduce or review consonant sound-spelling correspondences. It can also be utilized at any time to support individuals or groups in need of targeted remediation and practice.

Vowel Flip Book: Grade 1 Ancillary Materials
The Vowel Code Flip Book is used to introduce or review vowel sound-spelling correspondences. It can also be utilized at any time to support individuals or groups in need of targeted remediation and practice.

Spelling Cards: Grade 1 Ancillary MaterialsSpelling Cards are used in conjunction with the Consonant and Vowel Flip Books to record student progress. Teachers affix the spelling to the corresponding chart when a new sound-spelling is introduced.

Large Number Cards: Grade 1 Ancillary Materials
Large Cards are used in chaining exercises to help students practice phonemic spelling while also offering them an opportunity for movement.

Individual Code Chart: Grade 1 Ancillary Materials
Students use the Individual Code Chart to record the sound-spelling correspondences they have learned. They are encouraged to refer to the Individual Code Chart when reading and writing independently.

CKLA Domain 1: Fables and Stories

Students are introduced to fables and stories that have delighted people for generations, including Aesop’s fables, a folktale of Anansi the Spider, and Beatrix Potter’s “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” Students increase their vocabulary and reading comprehension skills, learn valuable lessons about virtues and behavior, and become familiar with the key elements of a story.

Read-Aloud Anthology: Fables and Stories

Flip Book: Fables and Stories

Image Cards: Fables and Stories

Read-Aloud Supplemental Guild: Fables and Stries

CKLA Domain 2: The Human Body

Students are introduced to the systems of the human body and the functions of major organs. They learn about care of the body, germs and disease, vaccines, and keys to good health.

Read-Aloud: Anthology: The Human Body

Flip Book: The Human Body

Image Cards: The Human Body

Read-Aloud Supplemental Guild: The Human Body

CKLA Domain 3: Different Lands, Similar Stories

Students encounter different cultures from around the world as they explore the ways in which folktales from different lands treat similar themes or characters, including variations on the Cinderella story, the adventures of supernaturally small characters, and the exploits of cunning tricksters.

Read-Aloud: Anthology: Different Lands, Similar Stories

Flip Book: Different Lands, Similar Stories

Image Cards: Different Lands, Similar Stories

Read-Aloud Supplemental Guild: Different Lands, Similar Stories

CKLA Domain 4: Early World Civilizations

What is needed to build a civilization? Going back to the ancient Middle East, students explore Mesopotamia and Egypt and learn about the importance of rivers, farming, writing, laws, art, and religious beliefs. A third section introduces the development of three major world religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) to provide students with a basic vocabulary for understanding many events and ideas in history throughout their studies in later grades.

Read-Aloud: Anthology: Early World Civilizations

Flip Book: Early World Civilizations

Image Cards: Early World Civilizations

Read-Aloud Supplemental Guild: Early World Civilizations

CKLA Domain 5: Early American Civilizations

Students compare and contrast key features of the early civilizations of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca, and explore the development of cities such as Tenochtitlan and Machu Picchu. They are also introduced to the work of archaeologists who unearth ancient civilizations.

Read-Aloud: Anthology: Early American Civilizations

Flip Book: Early American Civilizations

Image Cards: Early American Civilizations

Read-Aloud Supplemental Guild: Early American Civilizations

CKLA Domain 6: Astronomy

In this introduction to the solar system, students learn about Earth in relation to the moon, the other planets, the sun, and the stars. They learn about the sun as a source of light, heat, and energy. And they are introduced to space exploration, including the Apollo missions to the moon.

Read-Aloud: Anthology: Astronomy

Flip Book: Astronomy

Image Cards: Astronomy

Read-Aloud Supplemental Guild: Astronomy

CKLA Domain 7: The History of the Earth

Students learn about the geographical features of the Earth’s surface, the layers of the Earth, rocks and minerals, volcanoes and geysers—and, last but not least, fossils and dinosaurs!

Read-Aloud: Anthology: The History of the Earth

Flip Book: The History of the Earth

Image Cards: The History of the Earth

Read-Aloud Supplemental Guild: The History of the Earth

CKLA Domain 8: Animals and Habitats

Students focus on the interconnectedness of living things with their physical environment as they learn what a habitat is and explore plants and animals in specific types of habitats.

Read-Aloud: Anthology: Animals and Habitats

Flip Book: Animals and Habitats

Image Cards: Animals and Habitats

Read-Aloud Supplemental Guild: Animals and Habitats

CKLA Domain 9: Fairy Tales

Students are introduced to fairy tales that have been favorites for generations, including “Sleeping Beauty,” “Rumpelstiltskin,” “The Frog Prince,” “Hansel and Gretel,” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Students learn about the Brothers Grimm, identify common elements of fairy tales, consider problems and solutions, make interpretations, and compare and contrast different tales.

Read-Aloud: Anthology: Fairy Tales

Flip Book: Fairy Tales

Image Cards: Fairy Tales

Read-Aloud Supplemental Guild: Fairy Tales

CKLA Domain 10: A New Nation - America

tudents learn about the birth of the United States of America. They are introduced to important historical figures and events in the story of how the thirteen colonies became an independent nation. They also learn the significance of patriotic symbols, including the U.S. flag, the Liberty Bell, and the bald eagle.

Read-Aloud: Anthology: A New Nation - America

Flip Book: A New Nation - America

Image Cards: A New Nation - America

Read-Aloud Supplemental Guild: A New Nation - America

CKLA Domain 11: Frontier Explorers

Students are introduced to early exploration of the American West and learn about key figures such as Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark, and Sacagawea. They learn how colonists spread westward, including their struggles and successes and their interactions with native peoples.

Read-Aloud: Anthology: Frontier Explorers

Flip Book: Frontier Explorers

Image Cards: Frontier Explorers

Read-Aloud Supplemental Guild: Frontier Explorers

CKLA Unit 1: Grade 1 Skills - Snap Shots

For students who completed the Kindergarten CKLA program, Unit 1 provides a review of the sounds and spellings taught in the CKLA Kindergarten curriculum. Students are introduced to Tricky Spellings (spellings that can be sounded more than one way) and Tricky Words (words that cannot be sounded out using the letter-sound correspondences taught so far). The decodable Student Reader for Unit 1 is Snap Shots.

Teacher Guide: Grade 1 Skills Unit 1

Student Workbook: Grade 1 Skills Unit 1

Student Reader: Grade 1 Skills Unit 1

Big Book: Grade 1 Skills Unit 1

Assessment and Remediation Guide Grade 1 Skills Unit1

CKLA Unit 2: Grade 1 Skills - Gran

Unit 2 introduces five vowel sounds and the most common (or least ambiguous) spelling for each sound. Students learn to read and write words with separated digraphs (such as a and e in cake). The unit also includes grammar lessons on nouns (including proper nouns) as well as practice with new Tricky Words. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 2 is Gran.

Teacher Guide: Grade 1 Skills Unit 2

Student Workbook: Grade 1 Skills Unit 2

Student Reader: Grade 1 Skills Unit 2

Big Book: Grade 1 Skills Unit 2

Assessment and Remediation Guide Grade 1 Skills Unit 2

CKLA Unit 3: Grade 1 Skills - Gables

Unit 3 introduces students to five vowel sounds and the most common spelling for each sound, five new Tricky Words, and the Tricky Spelling “oo.” Grammar exercises focus on identifying verbs and verb tense (regular present, past, and future). Students begin formal instruction in the writing process with a focus on narrative writing.The decodable Student Reader for Unit 3 is Fables.

Teacher Guide: Grade 1 Skills Unit 3

Student Workbook: Grade 1 Skills Unit 3

Student Reader: Grade 1 Skills Unit 3

Big Book: Grade 1 Skills Unit 3

Assessment and Remediation Guide Grade 1 Skills Unit 3

CKLA Unit 4: Grade 1 Skills - The Green Fern Zoo

Unit 4 introduces the most common (or least ambiguous) spellings for /r/-controlled vowel sounds. Students learn the concept of a syllable and practice with two-syllable words. Students are introduced to past-tense verb forms ending with –ed as they continue to work with nouns and verbs in phrases. Students are introduced to adjectives and they practice descriptive writing. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 4 is The Green Fern Zoo.

Teacher Guide: Grade 1 Skills Unit 4

Student Workbook: Grade 1 Skills Unit 4

Student Reader: Grade 1 Skills Unit 4

Assessment and Remediation Guide Grade 1 Skills Unit 4

CKLA Unit 5: Grade 1 Skills - Kate's Book

In Unit 5, students begin learning spelling alternatives that make up the advanced code. They practice making nouns plural and changing spelling when adding suffixes. In grammar, students identify sentence types (statements, questions, and exclamations) and practice creating longer sentences. They plan, draft, and edit a letter in which they express their opinions to the main character of the decodable Student Reader for Unit 5, Kate’s Book.

Teacher Guide: Grade 1 Skills Unit 5

Student Workbook: Grade 1 Skills Unit 5

Student Reader: Grade 1 Skills Unit 5

Assessment and Remediation Guide Grade 1 Skills Unit 5

CKLA Unit 6: Grade 1 Skills - Grace

In Unit 6, students continue work with several spelling alternatives for consonant sounds. Students review nouns and pronouns and learn to match pronouns to the nouns to which they refer. They plan, draft, and edit a personal narrative. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 6 is Grace.

Teacher Guide: Grade 1 Skills Unit 6

Student Workbook: Grade 1 Skills Unit 6

Student Reader: Grade 1 Skills Unit 6

Assessment and Remediation Guide Grade 1 Skills Unit 6

CKLA Unit 7: Grade 1 Skills - Kay and Martez

In Unit 7, students continue to learn the advanced code, focusing on spelling alternatives for vowel sounds. In addition, students learn about the use of conjunctions and commas, as well as and noun-verb agreement in sentences. Students practice the writing process by planning, drafting, and editing an informative/explanatory text. The decodable Student Reader for Unit 7 is Kay and Martez. Students are administered a cumulative End-of-Year assessment, the results of which can be shared with second grade teachers via the End-of-Year Summary sheet included in the Student Workbook.

Teacher Guide: Grade 1 Skills Unit 1

Student Workbook: Grade 1 Skills Unit 1

Student Reader: Grade 1 Skills Unit 7

Grade 1 Science

CKHG Unit 1: Knowledge Map: The Human Body - Introduction to Systems

CKHG Unit 2: Knowledge Map: Astronomy - Introduction to Our Solar System

CKHG Unit 3: Knowledge Map: Introduction to Geology

CKHG Unit 4: Knowledge Map: Living Things and Their Environment

CKHG Unit 5: Knowledge Map: Matter and Its Properties

CKHG Unit 6: Knowledge Map: Introduction to Electricity

CKHG Unit 7: Knowledge Map: Introduction to Light and Sound

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There are no first grade history and geography materials.

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