1st Grade — Back to School
Reading takes off and numbers get real.
Ages 6–7
Ready for 1st Grade?
Eight questions, about ten minutes. Tap a card to reveal the answer.
- 1
Read this out loud: The cat sat on the mat.
CVC decoding
- 2
What is 8 + 5?
Addition within 20
- 3
What is 14 − 6?
Subtraction within 20
- 4
Write one sentence about your summer.
Sentence writing
- 5
Count by 10s up to 100.
Skip counting
- 6
What sound do the letters 'sh' make together?
Digraphs
- 7
Which is more: 34 or 43?
Comparing numbers
- 8
What time does this clock show? (set it to 3:30)
Telling time
6 free 1st Grade printables
Tap any sheet to see it full size and download a print-ready PDF. Work through them on screen if you'd rather not print.
Sight Words — Set 1
Read it, trace it, write it. The words that make up half of everything they'll read.
Addition Within 20
The fluency that everything in Grade 2 is built on.
Word Families — at / an / ap
One pattern unlocks a dozen words. This is how reading speeds up.
Telling Time — Half Hours
Analogue clocks, before the classroom one confuses them.
Story Sequencing
First, then, last — the backbone of both comprehension and writing.
Colour by Number — Butterfly
Number recognition dressed up as art. Good for a Friday.
The first five days back
About 30 minutes a day. This is about rebuilding the routine, not cramming — keep it short and finish while they still want more.
- Day1
Back into reading
30 min- Sight words set 1 sheet
- Read one short book aloud, taking turns per page
- Talk about what happened first, then, last
- Day2
Number warm-up
30 min- Addition within 20 sheet
- Count by 10s to 100 out loud
- Play a quick card game adding two cards together
- Day3
Word patterns
30 min- Word families sheet
- List every -at word you can think of together
- Write one sentence using two of them
- Day4
Time and routine
30 min- Telling time sheet
- Set a real clock to their school wake-up time
- Story sequencing sheet
- Day5
Confidence day
30 min- Colour by number butterfly
- Reread the book from Monday — notice how much easier it is
- Pack the bag together
What 1st Grade covers
The skills their teacher will assume, in plain language.
- Reading simple books independently by spring
- Adding and subtracting fluently within 20
- Writing complete sentences with capitals and full stops
- Reading around 100 high-frequency sight words
- Telling time to the hour and half hour
- Counting to 120 and understanding place value to 100
1st Grade supply list
Check the school's own list too — this covers what they usually leave out.
- Pencils, erasers, and a small sharpener
- Crayons and coloured pencils
- Scissors and glue sticks
- Wide-ruled notebook or exercise book
- Pencil case they can open one-handed
- Take-home folder
- Library bag for borrowed books
Three things that matter at this age
Reading aloud beats reading silently
At this age, hearing themselves decode is how fluency builds. Ten minutes out loud daily is the highest-return habit in Grade 1.
Don't rush past fingers
Finger counting isn't a bad habit — it's a stage. Number bonds to 10 will replace it naturally by winter.
Expect an energy crash at week three
The novelty wears off and tiredness peaks. Reduce after-school demands rather than pushing harder.
The whole Grade 1 curriculum, printable
The free sheets above cover the first week. The 1st Grade packs cover the whole year — instant download, print as many times as you like.
- Sight word sets 1–4 plus phonics blends, digraphs, and long vowels
- Addition and subtraction to 20 with word problems and fact families
- Sentence-writing progression from copying to independent writing
- Reading comprehension passages with questions at the right level
Most popular for 1st Grade
Frequently Asked Questions
What should my child already know before starting 1st Grade?
Reading simple books independently by spring; Adding and subtracting fluently within 20; Writing complete sentences with capitals and full stops. The readiness check on this page tests exactly these prerequisites, with the answers written out for you.
Is the 1st Grade content on this page free?
Yes — the readiness check, all 6 printables, the five-day plan, the supply list, and the parent tips are free. The 1st Grade packs in the shop are optional and cover the full school year.
How long does the 1st Grade first-week plan take?
About 30 minutes a day for five days. It's designed to rebuild the routine rather than teach new content, so it should feel easy.
My 1st Grade child missed several readiness questions. What now?
Start with the free sheets on this page — they target the same skills. Ten focused minutes a day closes most gaps within a few weeks. If you want structured practice for the whole year, the grade packs go much deeper.