Ages & Stages - 1st Grade Milestones

Flowering 1^st Graders

Print off the Milestones for your 1st grader!

Language Growth

· 1^st Graders use complex sentences (“he wants to come in because…”)

· They use quantitative words (many, few, some, most, least)

· 1^st Graders change word order appropriately to ask questions

· They answer why questions with explanations

· 1^st Graders ask meaning of new or unfamiliar words

· They use time words (yesterday, last night, tomorrow)

· 1^st Graders complete simple analogies (summer is hot, winter is ____)

· They describe similarities/differences in objects (coat and shoe, potato and rock, tree and flower)

· 1^st Graders name objects which belong to certain classes (toys, foods, animals…)

· They tell activities associated with seasons of the year

· 1^st Graders predict what will happen next in stories

· They answer questions about a story

· 1^st Graders retell a story in the correct sequence

· They can tell an original story lasting 1-2 minutes

· 1^st Graders can repeat familiar jokes

· They know word families

· 1^st Graders play verbal reasoning game (I’m thinking of something…)

· They can explain rules of simple board or card games to others

· 1^st Graders are good listeners and take in information

Knowledge Growth

· 1^st Graders state month and date of their birthday

· They identify penny, nickel, dime, and dollar/they know the values

· 1^st Graders know days of the week and months of the year

· They answer which is longer, a minute or an hour? A day or a week?

· 1^st Graders place objects across from, next to, beside, behind, in front of, to the side, left and right of self on request

· They arrange 4-5 objects in sequence by length, width, or height

· 1^st Graders can measure

· They identify half and whole objects

· 1^st Graders add and subtract 1 to 10

· They match numerals with same quantity of objects 1 to 10

· 1^st Graders name ordinal positions of objects (first, second, third)

· They read and write numbers up to 100

· 1^st Graders know the basics of telling time

· They understand place value of numbers

· 1^st Graders identify sets containing more/less

· They use real objects to add and subtract

· 1^st Graders write sentences, paragraphs, and simple stories

· They write with capitals and correct punctuation

· 1^st Graders know many word families and high frequency words

· They read at a wisdom level 8 by the end of 1^st grade

· 1^st Graders write and illustrate their own books (fiction and nonfiction)

· They are working on spelling patterns

· 1^st Graders like to keep reading, writing, math, science, and daily journals

· They know how to read graphs

· 1^st Graders use maps, globes, and simple timelines

· They predict, discover, read and write about their environment

· 1^st Graders love to do experiments, observe, and categorize

· They love to discuss and listen to longer readings

Social Growth

· 1^st Graders ask permission to play with another child’s toy

· They respond to verbal reasoning

· 1^st Graders contribute own ideas to discussions

· They cooperate with 2-5 people in simple projects

· 1^st Graders pass and serve up own food

· They place shoes on correct feet

· 1^st Graders adjust water temperature in sink and bath tub; prepare own bath

· They make their own bed

· 1^st Graders pick up their own toys

· They buckle their own seat belt in car

· 1^st Graders are aware of their surroundings

· They walk to familiar locations within a block of home independently

· 1^st Graders participate in board or card games

· They select their own friends

· 1^st Graders comfort people when in distress

· They show appropriate behavior in public places

· 1^st Graders explain relationship of family members (uncle bob is dad’s brother)

· They practice good health habits (washing hands, blowing nose with a Kleenex, chewing with your mouth closed…)

· 1^st Graders answer the telephone, make telephone calls, and talk on the telephone

· They remain silent at appropriate times (when someone is talking, in a movie…)

· 1^st Graders understand acceptable/unacceptable behavior

· They show pride and confidence in own accomplishments

· 1^st Graders are interested in fairness

· They respond to verbal reasoning

· 1^st Graders regularly complete one task independently without adult supervision

Physical Growth

· They love to skip with alternating feet

· 1^st Graders swing on swings, initiating and sustaining motion

· They perform backward somersault

· 1^st Graders can carry objects weighing 10-16 pounds

· They move from one overhead bar to another by swinging arms

· 1^st Graders catch, throw, and hit a ball with a bat

· They ride a bicycle

· 1^st Graders jump rope independently

· They maintain balance while moving on skates

· 1^st Graders coordinate several motor skills in one activity (jumping jacks, relay races, circle games)

· They can open a variety of individual-serving sized drink containers (school milk, juice containers)

· 1^st Graders pour juice/milk with little or no spilling

· They cut foods with a knife and spread butter with knife

· 1^st Graders fold simple clothing and puts it away in drawer

· They can join hands with partners on both sides and step forward/backward on request

· 1^st Graders run 50 yards without discomfort

Fine Motor Growth

· 1^st Graders show appropriate number of fingers when asked for the numbers 0-10

· They create things with clay (animals, baskets)

· 1^st Graders use pencil sharpeners, staplers, erasers and paper clips

· They cut out and paste or glue simple shapes

· 1^st Graders can fold diagonally and horizontally with ease

· They can hit a nail with a real hammer into soft wood

· 1^st Graders can write letters proficiently and draw with more detail

Creative Growth

· 1^st Graders love to pretend

· They like to collect things (leaves, rocks, bark)

· 1^st Graders paint, draw, and dance to their own beat

· They like to play silly games

· 1^st Graders love to sing and move to music

· They like to illustrate their own books

· 1^st Graders like to write their own books

· They like to create original art work with various materials

· 1^st Graders like to visit museums

· They enjoy plays and good movies

· 1^st Graders like to act out their own plays or books