Grades 1 and 2
First and second graders at Lesley Ellis are active learners. They read, write, build, test, revise, and present. Teachers meet children where they are and move them forward with explicit skill instruction and rich, interdisciplinary projects.
Students practice collaboration, independence, and reflection so they see themselves as readers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, artists, and caring community members.
Learning feels vibrant and meaningful, grounded in real-world questions, projects, and playful discovery.
Students take healthy risks, share their ideas, and learn to value multiple perspectives. With guidance from teachers who truly know them, every student feels seen, supported, and excited to learn.
This is What learning looks like
Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Technology
Social Studies
Antibias Educations
Spanish
Music
Visual Arts
Physical Education
Library and Information Literacy
Health and Wellness
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Snapshot: Learning in Action
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Language Arts
Partner Conference: Students read their drafts to peers, share and hear questions from them, and incorporate feedback to clarify or enhance their work.
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Math
“Restaurant” Simulation: Children read menus, total purchases, and make change with coins/bills—then share strategies for efficient counting.
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Science
Sorting to Classify: Learners sort everyday objects multiple ways, then shift to classifying insects by observed attributes—building the habit of scientific categorization.
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Social Studies
Mapping Boston & Beyond: After studying neighborhood maps and a visit from a cartographer, students build 3D route maps from home to school using recycled materials.
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Anti-Bias
Resource Equity Challenge: Groups build shelters with inequitable amounts and types of materials, then reflect on equity, fairness, and how communities respond.
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Spanish
Fruit Market: Dialogues, songs, and drawing tasks reinforce vocabulary, gender/number agreement, and conversational confidence.
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Art
Matisse Cut-Outs: Students “draw with scissors,” composing color/shape collages and discussing artistic choices.
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PE
Invent-a-Game: Teams design games with defined rules and progressions, then teach them to peers—creativity meets collaboration.
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Health
Germ Investigation: Handwashing experiment with bread slices includes hypotheses, observations, and action steps for staying healthy.
Grade Level Highlights
Provoking and Stretching Students
Through provocations, authentic problems, and open-ended solutions, first and second grade students are stretched to think through, visualize, and create answers to real-life questions. How can we create a small-scale bridge that will support the weight of cars? What kinds of materials strengthen bridges? Through experimentation, not-so-successful attempts, collaboration and refinement, students begin to understand the iterative process involved in engineering and design.
What's On Your Mind?
Each week there is dedicated time for students and teachers to come together to discuss and explore what they are feeling and experiencing. This meeting time is dedicated to social and emotional learning and gives students the space to bring up topics of interest, questions, and/or concerns. Teachers proactively introduce the challenging topics that confront these budding problem solvers. Was there a disagreement on the playground? A game that felt unfair? When is it OK to “tell” a teacher? What are ways I can be clear and still be kind? Teachers help students find creative and collaborative ways to understand and approach the concepts that are starting to make life a little more complicated.
Grades 1 and 2 Musical
Each year, the first and second graders stage a musical and develop the strong sense of the collaboration that is essential for putting on a great show. They work together in groups—preparing costumes, singing songs, practicing lines, and learning choreographed dance and movements. Production themes are inspired by topics near and dear to the students’ hearts (and their curriculum!)—including reimagined fairy tales complete with singing compost piles and antagonists who experience a change of heart.