First grade teachers educate first grade students in elementary-level reading, writing, math, social studies, and science. They prepare lesson plans for grade-level content. Students are usually still learning to read proficiently at this stage, and are learning basic addition and subtraction in math. Topics in social studies typically center around community institutions and map reading, while science material covered introduces the students to beginner-level concepts, such as the life cycle of a butterfly. A first grade teacher may also plan educational field trips and collaborate with other teachers to cultivate effective teaching methods.