Grade 1 Science and Social Studies

Rod and Staff Publishers has not prepared first grade curriculum in the subjects of science and social studies, because reading, writing, and arithmetic are given primary emphasis at this level.

Those who want to include science and social studies in grade 1 may be interested in the following suggestions (sourced from the booklet Sampling Science and Social Studies: Grade 1). This page lists a number of storybooks and coloring books that can be used for teaching these concepts at a first-grade level. The recommended books are grouped according to the concept being studied, and may be listed again in the context of other concepts. The suggested activity ideas provide some general guidance for including these concepts in your studies.

Seasons of the Year

	Happy Seasons (Little Jewel Book) Poetry describes weather and activities of the four seasons.
	Three Happy Days (Little Jewel Book) Snow falls in winter.
	The Lost Milk Jar (Little Jewel Book) Snow affects the activities of life.
	Something for Sandra (Preschool - Age 7) This story includes a description of spring.
	Caterpillar Green (Beginning Reader) Seasons change while the caterpillar becomes a butterfly.

Activity

Make a bulletin board or wall display that has four columns. Use large letters for the headings Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn. In each column place pictures of the months in that season. Practice saying the months of the year in rotation, pointing to correct columns as you go. (For the months that change seasons, point to the season which begins in that month.)

Animal Variety

Morning on the Farm (Little Jewel Book) Animals have distinctive sounds. Animals eat various kinds of food.

Animal Classification

	ABC Book of God's Creatures (Little Jewel Book)
	Animals, Animals, Animals (Coloring Book)
	What Is It? (Coloring Book)

Activity

Introduce some basic animal classes. These books touch on mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, mollusks, and arachnids. You may choose to handle just a few of the larger, more familiar categories. List those headings on the chalkboard or a poster, and list animal names in the proper category as you discuss them. Categorize the animals for the children rather than trying to explain the classes by definition. This exposure will be a foundation for understanding the classification in later studies. Do not limit all animals to your few categories. When you have one that does not fit, tell the children that it is an animal from a smaller group that you do not have listed.

Bird Study

	Little Jewel Bird (Little Jewel Book) Hummingbird identity. Food for hummingbirds.
	Birds, Birds, Birds (Coloring Book) Twenty-four species of birds are named with some detail of color, action, or song.
	Nature Book to Color (Coloring Book) This book identifies a wide range of birds, flowers, butterflies, and seashells.
	Farming With Father (Preschool - Age 7) A barn swallow picture-story is shown in the chapter title pictures.

Activity

Mount a bird feeder where it can be seen from the window. Develop a list of birds that the children can identify, showing a picture and the name of each one.

Do you know the location of any bird nests? Take the children on a walk to see them and look for more.

Animal Behavior

	God Made the Animals (Beginning Reader) Rabbits protect their babies by hiding their nests. Rabbits protect themselves by hiding. Fish escape danger by quick movement. Killdeer save their babies by tricking their enemies. God created the animals with ability to protect themselves.
	God Made the Opossum (Beginning Reader) The opossum has a unique way of protecting itself.
	The Egg and the Chick (Beginning Reader) A setting hen protects her nest.
	The Squirrel and the Nut (Beginning Reader) Squirrels feed on nuts. Squirrels store food to live through winter.
	Animals, Animals, Animals (Coloring Book) Animals from farm, woods, and zoo.

Activity

Prepare a bulletin board titled "God Made the Animals." Divide it into two sections with the headings "Animals In Our Area" and "Animals From Other Places," or make three sections with headings "Farm Animals," "Pets," and "Wild Animals." Let the children supply pictures for the display, and post each one with its name. Have tracing paper available for sources not suitable for cutting out pictures.

Continuation of Animal Species

The Egg and the Chick (Beginning Reader) Hens lay eggs. Eggs are food for people. Chicks grow inside eggs during incubation. Chicks hatch from eggs.

Activity

Make two large, egg-shaped posters. Let the children fill one with pictures of different ways to serve eggs, or foods that contain eggs. Use the other to picture the stages in the chicken's life cycle. Show a hen, eggs in a nest, a setting hen, baby chicks, and half-grown chicks.

Metamorphosis

	God Made the Firefly (Beginning Reader) God created fireflies with the ability to flash their lights. The four stages of metamorphosis are egg, grub, pupa, and adult.
	Caterpillar Green (Beginning Reader) Details in the life cycle of the black swallowtail butterfly: The caterpillar eats parsley. The caterpillar positions itself in a silk sling. The caterpillar forms a chrysalis. A butterfly emerges from the chrysalis.

Activity

Study the four stages of metamorphosis. Many insects have this type of life cycle. Prepare a poster showing the four stages of an insect of your choosing.

If possible, observe some real specimens. The caterpillar-chrysalis-butterfly change is a marvelous demonstration for the classroom.

The Locust Story (Beginning Reader) The seventeen-year locust has a three-stage life cycle. The egg is laid in a twig of a tree. The egg hatches, and the grub goes into the ground. The grub lives in the ground for seventeen years. The adult climbs out of the ground and out of its shell. Locusts have distinctive wing patterns.

Animal Care

	A Letter for Titus (Little Jewel Book) A fishbowl must be prepared before the fish are put in it. Proper water temperature is important. Feed fish once a day. Impure water kills fish.
	The Egg and the Chick (Beginning Reader) Chickens need feed daily. Chickens need water daily.
	Farming With Father (Preschool - Age 7) Calves need clean bedding. The vet treats a sick cow.
	Morning on the Farm (Little Jewel Book) Farm animals are fed before breakfast.

Continuation of Plant Species

	The Squirrel and the Nut (Beginning Reader) Nuts are tree seeds. Nuts grow into trees. Trees produce more nuts.
	God Makes Seeds That Grow (Beginning Reader) Seeds sprout and grow into plants. Plants produce seeds. Only God can make seeds that grow.

Activity

Observe sprouting seeds. Fold and roll a paper towel to make a tube that fits against the inside of a clear glass. Push an assortment of dried beans, grains, or garden seeds down between the paper towel and glass. Fill the glass half full of water; the paper towel will act as a wick to keep the seeds damp. Dried beans will show swelling within a few hours. Many varieties will sprout in a day or two.

Make a booklet as a class project. Collect various small or flat seeds. Tape each one to a sheet of paper. On the sheet also draw or paste a picture of the plant and the fruit that the seed produces, and write its name. Make a cover that says "God Makes Seeds that Grow," and staple the sheets together.

Gardening

	Two Surprises (Little Jewel Book) Seeds are planted in the garden. Weeds need to be removed. Some helpful creatures live in the garden (toad, worm).
	God Makes Seeds That Grow (Beginning Reader) Corn grows from corn seeds. Beans grow from bean seeds. Peas grow from pea seeds.
	A Garden for Everyone (Coloring Book) Gardens need planting, weeding, watering, and cultivating. Some helpful creatures live in the garden. Harvest is a reward of gardening.
	We Live on a Farm (Coloring Book) Gardening is a part of farm life.

Plant Varieties

Berries, Berries, Berries (Little Jewel Book) Berries are fruit. There are different kinds of berries. Strawberries ripen in June. Blueberries ripen in July. Blackberries ripen in August. God's sunshine and rain make berries grow. Berries taste good in a variety of foods.

Activity

Serve some strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Can the children list some other kinds of berries?

Make a poster of different kinds of berries showing close-up pictures of the plants and leaves. Prepare a matching exercise in pictures for matching the correct berry to the correct plant.

	Flowers, Flowers, Flowers (Coloring Book) This book of close-up pictures identifies thirty varieties of flowers.
	Nature Book to Color (Coloring Book) This book identifies a wide range of flowers and leaves of trees, besides birds, butterflies, and seashells.

Activity

Collect leaves from local trees. Use a different sheet of paper to trace and color each variety. Write the kind of tree on the paper. Add notes from observations about its growth, blossoms, fruit, or seeds, and how it changes throughout the year. Include details of acquaintance such as "The trees at the end of the driveway are red maples."

Display the pages on the wall or staple them into a book.

Natural Resources

God's Wonderful Trees (Little Jewel Book) Wood comes from trees. Wood has many uses. Trees are valuable in ecology. Trees produce various foods. Trees hold water in the ground. The leaves of trees make our air pure.

Activity

Make a bulletin board display picturing a large tree with all its parts. Include roots, and show a partially cut-away trunk for lumber. Fasten bits of real tree parts on the board. Connect each to the appropriate part of the picture with a string, and label it: root, lumber, bark, twig, leaf, fruit.

God's Wonderful Water (Little Jewel Book) Water is a gift from God. Water is found different places in nature. Water comes in different forms of precipitation. Fish live in water. All living things need water.

Human Body

God Made Me (Beginning Reader) Oil and grease lubricate moving parts. There are moving parts in our bodies. God has created our bodies with built-in maintenance.

Activity

Observe the effect of lubrication. Place two pie pans on a table or countertop. Slide them and observe the resistance and grating sound. Put a small puddle of cooking oil under one pan, and compare the result as you slide the two pans again. Perhaps there is a squeaking door or other practical opportunity on hand to demonstrate the effect of lubrication.

Observe body joints. Name a list of joints as you flex them: knuckle, wrist, elbow, shoulder, neck, toe, ankle, knee, thigh, waist. Moving parts develop wear as they rub against each other. Emphasize the blessing of the God-provided maintenance of the moving parts of our body joints.

God Made Us (Beginning Reader) We should be clean. Soap and water clean skin. Skin may be spotted or of varied shades. Sandpaper grates. Skin is alive; abrasives hurt.

Activity

Rub a block of wood with sandpaper. Make pencil marks on it; sand them off. The sandpaper is grinding away the surface of the wood. Sandpaper would wear away your skin too if it were rubbed on you too much.

	Anthony Gets Ready for Church (Little Jewel Book) Personal care includes washing properly. Give detail to dressing carefully.
	We Should Be Thankful (Beginning Reader) Good routine in the morning includes details of personal care. Sometimes we do not feel well. Our bodies need rest when we are sick. Grouchy feelings can be overcome. We have many things to be thankful for.

Activity

List the things Kathy usually did in the morning: rise promptly, pray, dress quickly, wash her face and hands. Encourage the children to develop these good habits.

List all the indoor activities Kathy could do when she was able to be up again. Discuss the reason for Kathy's grouchy feeling. Consider Mother's answer to the situation and the bird's example of cheer instead of frustration. Our feelings need not be dictated by undesirable situations; there is so much good we can concentrate on!

List all the things Kathy thought of to be thankful for. Begin a long poster to list the blessings the children think of. Continue it day by day as the children think of additional things. Demonstrate a cheerful spirit consistently, and encourage them to do the same.

Five Senses

	God Loves Me (Little Jewel Book) Various gifts from God are perceived with different senses.
	God's World and Johnny (Preschool - Age 7) God made Johnny feel, smell, see, hear, and taste.
	Something for Sandra (Preschool - Age 7) Different senses are involved in recognizing spring.

Activity

Provide sheets for the children with a large picture of an eye at the top. Have them fill the page with drawings or cutout pictures of things they can see. Do a sheet with the picture of an ear at the top, a nose, a mouth (with tongue showing), and a hand. Prepare a cover page with the title "Five Gates for Learning."

Family Life

God's Happy Family (Little Jewel Book) Family members are Father, Mother, and children. Children help with home chores. Father works away. Mother is a housekeeper. Family members care about how the others feel.

Activity

Have each student make a booklet titled "My Family." Using a page for each family member, draw a picture of the person, write the name, and write some things that person does that help to make the family happy.

	Molly Helps Mother (Little Jewel Book) We should ask God to help us in times of trouble. Children should help their parents. Older children should help with younger children.
	Helping Mother (Little Jewel Book) A child can do many things to help.

Activity

Talk about children's responsibilities at home. Let children tell about when their mothers were sick and what they did to help. Tell them to do something for Mother today. Perhaps they can write little "I love you" notes.

Happy Hours With Henry (Coloring Book) Family life and family relationships.

Work Ethics

	Happy Helpers (Little Jewel Book) Many hands make light work.
	Two Surprises (Little Jewel Book) Seeds are planted in the garden. Weeds need to be removed. Some helpful creatures live in the garden (toad, worm).
	God Gives Us Work (Little Jewel Book) Division of work for different family members.
	Happy Hours With Henry (Coloring Book) Examples of a child's duties and helpful acts.

Safety

	A Truck and a Tricycle (Little Jewel Book) Keep toys out of walking areas.
	David's New Ball (Little Jewel Book) Ask permission before crossing the road. Look both ways before crossing the road.

Farm Life

	Morning on the Farm (Little Jewel Book) Numerous farm animals and their young are fed.
	We Live on a Farm (Coloring Book) Pictures show work and play, animals, and crops.
	Farming With Father (Preschool - Age 7) This story poem involves many facets of farm life: weather, crops, animal care, daily chores, repair of equipment.

Food Sources

	Berries, Berries, Berries (Little Jewel Book) Many dishes use berries. Jam preserves berries for winter.
	God's Wonderful Trees (Little Jewel Book) Bees make honey from blossoms of trees. Trees produce fruit and nuts.
	Baking Day (Little Jewel Book) Eggs, sugar, margarine, and flour are cookie ingredients. Lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes go into salad. Apple crumble is made with ingredients and baked.
	God's Happy Family (Little Jewel Book) One of the three stories is about baking.
	Birthday Friend (Little Jewel Book) The family makes homemade ice cream.
	God's World and Johnny (Preschool - Age 7) "Johnny Learns About Breakfasts"
	We Live on a Farm (Coloring Book) Cows give milk. Chickens give eggs. Gardens produce food. Fruit can be canned.
	A Garden for Everyone (Coloring Book) Garden produce and a market stand.

See also Gardening.

Activity

Classify food into groups according to sources. "Food We Can Grow," "Food From Animals," "Food We Can Make," and "Food That Comes From Far Away" could be headings for a bulletin board or sections of a scrapbook.

Social Relations

My Thank You Book (Little Jewel Book) Many favors and kindnesses are shown to us. We should express gratitude.

Activity

How wealthy we are! That realization can be wakened by simply naming the many items pictured around the borders of the pages of text. We thank God for our favorable circumstances.

Encourage recognition of kind deeds in everyday life. Get the children to use "thank you" at appropriate times during the school day. Let the children portray these "thank you" occasions in drawings.

Develop a bulletin board with the children's drawings and cutouts of things to be thankful for. Use "Thank You, God" as a prominent title. In smaller lettering, add scattered quotes such as "Thank you, Father"; "Thank you, Mother"; "Thank you, brother"... sister, friend, teacher.

Birthday Friend (Little Jewel Book) God wants us to visit widows (James 1:27). Christians should share fellowship. A family should plan together.

Activity

Explain James 1:27 to the class. People who truly serve God show it in the way they treat other people. If possible, take your students to sing for a widow. Take along some flowers or some other token of friendship.

Do you know some fatherless children? Plan something kind and encouraging for them.

	Three Happy Days (Little Jewel Book) The family goes to church together. Children should have reverent conduct.
	David's New Ball (Little Jewel Book) Respect grownups. Accept wrong instead of making a fuss about misunderstanding. Let parents decide how to handle a problem.

Other People in Society

God Gave Us (Coloring Book) Firemen, postmen, doctors, dentists, school, church.

Foreign Culture

	This Is Mohan (Little Jewel Book) Life for a child in India. People in other lands have some things different from ours (clothes, homes, furniture, food, pastime). People in other lands are just like us in some ways (basic needs of life, attitudes, human relations, spiritual needs).
	Beautiful India (Coloring Book)
	Adventures of Mohan (Ages 8 - 11) Stories of Mohan in India as an older child.

Activity

Location India on the globe. Locate your own area. Show a map that can be identified as your area on the globe, and pinpoint your location on it. Develop the concept of a map with a larger-scale map that shows your area in detail. Pinpoint familiar roads and buildings if possible.

Rosita y Mateo (Coloring Book) Family life in Latin American culture. Captions are printed in Spanish and English.

Activity

For each page, discuss how life for Rosita and Mateo is the same as yours or different from yours.

	Happy Days With Pablo and Juanita (Ages 8 - 11) Family life in the mountains of Mexico.
	Miguel, the Shepherd Boy (Ages 8 - 11) Stories and illustrations show life in the mountains of Guatemala.
	Pedro (Ages 8 - 11) Family life in rural Guatemala.

List of Recommended Books

This is a concise listing of the books referenced above, with the concepts covered noted in parentheses.