Grade 1 curriculum: Letters

Introducing the lettersA fun way to introduce the alphabetical letters is through stories. The grade 1 child is still in the fantasy stage of life, wanting to play with dinosaurs, fairies, princes, princesses, etc. So, why not bring this into their school work. The ideal way to bring this in is in a three day rhythm.

Day 1. Tell them the story. Have a picture about the story drawn on the black board so they can look at it while you are telling the story. Then after you have told the story, draw a picture about the story. Your child may copy you or draw their own picture. Bring the letter you are introducing into your picture.

Day 2. Remember the story from yesterday together. Prompt the child to help her remember. Write a sentence about the story on the board and have the child practice writing it. Model something from the story with modelling beeswax or plasticine.

Day 3. You could do a wet-on-wet painting. This is a very basic water colour painting done on wet paper. Then write the sentence you practiced yesterday into your main lesson book.

Things to do when introducing a new letter or number for that matter.

1. Form them with beeswax or plasticine.
2. Paint them, heaven to earth.
3. Draw them in a same tray.
4. Make them with rope, string and blocks.
5. Make reading rings.
6. Learn poems about the letters and numbers.

Stories for each letter
A
Hay for my Ox
Magic Spindle
B
The Three Bears
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Queen Bee
Snow White and Rose Red
East of the Sun and West of the Moon
Mother Mary's Child
C
Dick Whittington and His Cat
White Cat
Hungry Cat
Canoeing Story
Poor Miller's Boy and His Cat
Puss and Boots
Companionship for he Cat and The Mouse
D
Hansel and Gretel
The Donkey
Snowflake and the Dragon
Singing Soaring Lark
Mother Holle
E
Golden Key
F
Fisherman and His Wife
Lambkin and the Little Fish
Frog Prince
G
Golden Goose
The Goose Girl
Grey Brown Horse
H
Mother Holle
Fisherman and His Wife
The House in the Forest
Hansel and Gretel
The three Feathers
Hut in the Forest
Seven kids and a Wolf
I
King's Son Who Feared Nothing
The Secret Name of the King
J
Jack and the Bean
Water for Life
Jack Frost
Jorinda and Jorinda
The Jew Among Thorns
Clow of God
K
Any King Story
Three Languages
Our Lady's Child
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
King of the Golden Mountain
King Thurshbeard
L
Cinderella
The Prince Who Feared Nothing
The Singing Soaring Lark
The Elves and the Shoemaker
M
Simeli Mountain
The Castle of Flames
N
Nix of the Mill Pond
Mother Inkle
The Nail
O
Gnome
The treasure Chest
The Proud Prince
The Goose Girl
P
Peter and the Wolf
Prince Hyncinth
Dear Little Princess
King Thrushbeard
Snow White and Rose Red
Briar Rose
any Prince or Princess Story
Q
(introduce with U)
Mother Mary's Child
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfes
The Goose Girl
Queen Summer
Queen with am Umbrella
R
Rumpelstiltskin
Runner
Little Prince am school
The Lordly Cock
Small white Snake
S
The White Snake
Six Swans
Discontented Stream
Three Snake Leaves
T
Three Little Men in the Forest
The Tree and the Boy
Mr. Who
The Singing Soaring Lark
The Prince Who Feared Nothing
U
Queen's umbrella
V
Nix of the Mill Pond
Mother Mary's Child
Snow white and the Seven Dwarfes
Valley of Weavers
W
The Crystal Ball
The Fisherman and his Wife
Water of Life
Little Prince at School
X
Brother Ox and Brother Ass
Four Skillful Brothers
Mix of Milk Pond
The Three Feathers
Y
The Y in the Road
Z
The Golden Key
The Crooked Man (Nursery Rhyme)

As you can see you can use a story for two or more letters. I would introduce about three letters a week. This does not have to be in alphabetical order.