Grade 1 Sample Unit: All About Me

Context: Personal and Philosophical
Type: Thematic

This unit is designed to extend students' understanding of themselves and their world. All individuals are unique. It is important that students develop a positive self-image and accept themselves and their peers as valuable human beings. Through the suggested texts, the oral language experiences, and the reading, writing, viewing, and representing activities, students will explore their ideas, feelings, and surroundings. At the same time, students will explore and extend their use and knowledge of the English language. The purpose of this unit is to develop language skills and strategies in the context of exploring what is most relevant and important to grade 1 students.

Many of the sample lessons begin with oral language activities; however, the unit provides a balance of oral, written, and visual experiences. Students' experiences, their language, familiar environmental print, and a variety of texts comprise the resources used in this unit. Multiple copies of appropriate literature selections relevant to the theme should be available in the classroom for independent reading activities.

The first sample lesson has been designed to introduce this unit at the beginning of the school year. The subsequent lessons and topics are not necessarily sequential. Teachers should adapt all lessons and activities to accommodate students' needs and interests. The resources that are available will also influence unit direction and length.

Suggested Resources

Picture Books
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. J. Viorst
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See. B. Martin Jr.
Emily Umily. K. Corrigan
Feelings. J. B. Murphy
Henny Penny. P. Galdone
Morris the Moose Goes to School. B. Wiseman
Peter's Moccasins. J. Truss
Red is Best. K. Stinson
Rosie's Walk. P. Hutchins (big book, video)
There's A Nightmare in My Closet. M. Mayer
The T-Shirt Song. C. Belanger (kit containing audio cassette and big book; see Literacy 2000 series annotation in Children First: A Bibliography for Kindergarten)

Poetry Anthologies
Alligator Pie. D. Lee
Butterscotch Dreams. S. Dunn
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children. J. Prelutsky
Sing a Song of Popcorn. B. DeRegniers

Picture Files

Additional and Alternate Resources
The following titles represent other materials that are relevant to the unit theme. Many of them have been suggested in Lesson Extensions. Such resources are appropriate for shared reading, independent reading, and for reading to students.

Arctic Alphabet: Exploring the North From A to Z. W. Lynch
Arthur's Birthday. M. Brown
Beauty of the Beast: Poems From the Animal Kingdom. J. Prelutsky
Big Sarah's Little Boots. P. Bourgeois
Billy's World. C. Weber-Pillwax
Changes. P. Condon
Chester Bear, Where Are You? P. Eyvindson
Chuck in the City. J. Wheeler
City Sounds. R. Emberley
Clifford's Family. N. Bridwell
A Difficult Day. E. Fernandes
Franklin in the Dark. P. Bourgeois
General Store. R. Field
I Like Hats. B. Drawson
I Want a Cat. T. Ross
I Wished for a Unicorn. R. Heidbreder
In the Swim: Poems and Paintings. D. Florian
Just Me and My Dad. M. Mayer
The Little Duck = Sikihpsis. B. Cuthand
Mothers Are Like That. C. Carrick
Move Over, Twerp. M. Alexander
My Arctic 1, 2, 3. M. Kusugak
My Dog. C. Belanger (kit; see Literacy 2000 series annotation in Children First: A Bibliography for Kindergarten)
Mr. Grumpy's Motor Car. J. Burningham
Nobody. M. Zola & A. Dereume
Olivia. I. Falconer
On My Island. M. L. Gay
A Place for Ben. J. Titherington
Ribbon Rescue. R. Munsch
The Sacred Eagle Feather. C. Crowe
Sarah May and the New Red Dress. A. Spalding
Say It! C. Zolotow
A Screaming Kind of Day. R. Gilmore
Simon's Surprise. T. Staunton
Susan Laughs. J. Willis
When Will I Read? M. Cohen
Where Did You Get Your Moccasins? H. Bekkering & B. Wheeler
William's Doll. C. Zolotow

Note: Some major integrated language arts resources may also include appropriate selections.