September activities for 1st grade are some of my FAVORITE to plan! 🍎💗
The first few weeks of school are behind us. Students are starting to learn our classroom routines. And we can finally start settling into all of the fun learning that happens in first grade!
But September can also feel like A LOT.
You’re still practicing routines and building independence. At the same time, you’re starting new phonics skills, math strategies, small groups, centers, and more!
Over the years, I found that September felt so much easier when I kept things simple and consistent.
So today I’m sharing some of my favorite September activities for 1st grade, along with the routines and resources that help make our classroom run a little more smoothly all month long! 💗
1. Keep Your Classroom Routines Consistent
By September, I don’t want to introduce a million new classroom routines!
Instead, I want students to get REALLY good at the routines we already started learning.
This is where my Daily Slides are so helpful! 💗
I use visual slides throughout our entire school day for things like:
💗 Morning routines
💗 Morning meeting
💗 Learning objectives
💗 Phonics
💗 Reading and math centers
💗 Classroom transitions
💗 Timers
💗 Dismissal routines
Students can look at the board and see exactly what they should be doing.
And once fall arrives, I LOVE switching over to my Fall Daily Slides! 🍎🍂
The cute fall themes make our classroom feel a little more seasonal, but the routines themselves stay exactly the same.
That consistency is what helps students become more independent!
September Phonics Skills for 1st Grade
September is also when we really start digging into our first grade phonics skills! 💗
After reviewing letters, sounds, and short vowels, I like to start moving into some of our next phonics patterns.
Throughout these early weeks, we work on skills like:
💗 Beginning Blends
💗 Ending Blends
💗 Double Consonant Endings (FLOSS)
💗 -ck Endings
💗 Digraphs
Of course, every class moves at a different pace! Some students may need more time with short vowels, while others are ready to move ahead.
The important thing is giving students LOTS of opportunities to read, spell, write, and work with each new phonics pattern before moving on.
One thing that makes planning all of this SO much easier is having a general idea of where we’re headed next!
I put together a FREE 1st Grade Phonics Schedule + Pacing Guide that maps out 38 weeks of phonics skills. It also includes the simple daily schedule I use to plan our phonics block!
Grab the free Phonics Pacing Guide!
Want to see what that schedule actually looks like in the classroom?
I also broke down my entire phonics routine in my 1st Grade Phonics Schedule blog post! You can see how I fit whole group instruction, literacy centers, independent practice, fluency, and more into our day.
Addition Strategies for 1st Grade
September is when we really start digging into addition in 1st grade! 💗
Before expecting students to know their addition facts automatically, I like to give them lots of different strategies they can use to solve them.
We start by building a strong understanding of what addition actually means. Then we begin adding strategies to our Addition Toolbox! 🧰
Some of the addition strategies we work on include:
💗 Counting On
💗 Using a Number Line
💗 Making 10
💗 Doubles Facts
💗 Doubles + 1
💗 Using a 120 Chart
I love teaching these strategies one at a time and giving students LOTS of opportunities to practice each one!
As we learn new strategies, students start to discover which ones work best for different addition problems. Over time, they build an entire toolbox of strategies they can pull from when solving addition facts! 🙌
This helps students think flexibly about numbers instead of relying on counting every single object or memorizing facts right away.
Want an easy way to practice some of these addition strategies? 💗
I put together a set of my favorite Addition Math Mats that you can grab for FREE!
These are perfect for teacher table, small groups, math centers, or extra hands-on addition practice. Just print them, slide them into a sheet protector, and use them again and again! 🥰
And if you want even MORE ideas for teaching addition, I put all of my favorite strategies, activities, and teaching ideas together in my Addition Strategies for 1st Grade blog post!
You can see how I introduce each strategy and help students build their Addition Toolbox throughout our addition unit.
Read more about how I teach Addition Strategies in 1st Grade here!
Keep Math Centers Simple & Predictable
By September, our math center routines are really starting to click! 🙌
At the beginning of the year, I spend LOTS of time explicitly teaching our math center expectations. We practice where to go, how to get materials, how to work with a partner, and what to do when we’re finished.
Once students know those expectations, I try to keep our actual math center routines as consistent as possible!
I don’t want to introduce four brand new games every Monday. 😂
Instead, I use the same familiar center routines again and again and simply change the math skill we’re practicing.
Want to read more about how I plan consistent math center routines and grab some math center freebies? Check out my Math Center Routines blog!
One of my favorite math center routines is Solve the Room! 💗
We use the same Solve the Room routine all year long. Students already know exactly what to do, so I can simply change the math skill and theme throughout the year.
In September, I love pulling out our apple and fall themed Solve the Room activities! 🍎🍂 They give us a little seasonal fun without having to teach students a brand new center.
This is exactly why I love using consistent math center routines. The activities can feel new and fun while the routine stays familiar! 🙌
Find Solve the Room Activities to use all year long here!
Easy September Activities for 1st Grade 🍂
September is busy enough without having to prep a brand new activity for every part of the day! 😂
This is when I LOVE having easy, no prep activities that give students extra practice with the skills we’re already learning.
My Fall Literacy Worksheets include lots of early 1st grade phonics, reading, grammar, and writing practice with fun fall themes! 🍎
Students can work on skills like short vowels, blends, digraphs, heart words, reading comprehension, grammar, and more.
I use these for morning work, literacy centers, independent practice, early finishers, or anytime we need a little extra practice!
See the Fall Literacy Worksheets
And I do the same thing during math! 💗
My Fall Math Worksheets give students extra practice with the math skills we’re working on throughout the season.
They’re an easy way to add a little fall fun to our math block without changing our normal routines or adding a bunch of prep!
They’re perfect for independent practice, math centers, morning work, or a quick review.
Keep Practice Fun with Color by Code 🎨
Color by Code is one of my favorite easy activities to pull out in September! 💗
Once students know how the activity works, I can use the same familiar routine for both math AND phonics practice.
For literacy, I love using Phonics Color by Code to practice the phonics skills we’re learning. Students can work on short vowels, blends, digraphs, and more while completing a familiar activity!
Find the Fall Phonics Color by Code here!
And we use the same idea during math! My Addition and Subtraction Color by Code activities give students extra practice with the addition and subtraction skills we’re working on.
They’re perfect for morning work, centers, independent practice, early finishers, or anytime we need an easy review activity! 🥰
Find Addition and Subtraction Color by Code
Add a Little Fall Fun! 🍎
And of course, September in 1st grade needs a little fall fun! 🥰
One of my favorite ways to make September feel special is adding a few seasonal activities to our regular learning.
Apple Day is always one of my favorites! 🍎
We spend the day learning all about apples while mixing in reading, writing, science, math, and lots of hands-on fun.
Some of our favorite Apple Day activities include:
💗 Making crockpot applesauce
💗 Having an apple taste test
💗 Learning about the apple life cycle
💗 Reading our favorite apple books
💗 Completing apple-themed learning activities
I love days like this because they feel extra special to students, but we’re still learning and practicing important 1st grade skills the whole time!
I put together all of my favorite Apple Day activities and ideas in one place if you want to plan your own! 🍎💗
One More September Freebie! ✂️💗
Need an easy craft for September? I also have a set of FREE September No Prep Crafts that are perfect when you want something fun without adding a bunch of prep!
These are perfect for an easy September bulletin board, writing activity, or just a little seasonal fun! 🥰
Grab the FREE September No Prep Crafts here! 💗
Read about our Smart Cookie Day in 1st Grade here!
September Activities for 1st Grade 💗
September in 1st grade is BUSY!
But I’ve found that I don’t need brand new routines or complicated activities to make it all work.
Keeping our classroom routines consistent, using familiar center activities, and giving students lots of practice with the skills we’re learning makes SUCH a difference.
Then we can sprinkle in a little fall fun along the way! 🍎🍂
I hope these September activities for 1st grade give you a few new ideas and help make your month feel a little easier too!
Happy Teaching!
Kelsey 💗
