Objective
By the end of this lesson, the first-grade homeschool student will be able to identify and understand key vocabulary related to horses, as well as demonstrate basic reading comprehension skills through a horse-themed reading activity.
Materials and Prep
- Paper and pencil for note-taking
- A selection of horse-themed books or stories
Activities
- Introduce the topic of horses and ask the student what they already know about them. Write down their responses on the paper.
- Read a horse-themed book or story together, pausing to discuss any unfamiliar words or concepts. Encourage the student to ask questions and make connections to their own experiences.
- After reading, create a list of horse-related vocabulary words on the paper. Have the student help you define each word and write down the definitions.
- Using the vocabulary words, create flashcards or word cards. Shuffle them and play a matching game with the student. Have them match the word with its definition.
- For additional practice, give the student a short passage or paragraph about horses to read independently. Encourage them to use their newly learned vocabulary words to help with comprehension.
- Discuss the passage together, asking the student questions about what they read. Encourage them to provide evidence from the text to support their answers.
First Grade Talking Points
- "Horses are large animals that people can ride on."
- "They have four legs and can run very fast."
- "Horses come in different colors, such as brown, black, white, and gray."
- "Some horses have a special job called 'pulling a carriage'."
- "Horses eat hay, grass, and grains to stay healthy."
- "They have a long tail that they can swish to keep away flies."
- "Horses communicate with each other by making sounds like neighing."
- "People take care of horses by brushing their fur and cleaning their hooves."
- "Horses are friendly animals and can become good friends with humans."