Grade 1 Matatag Lesson Exemplar
Grade 1 Matatag Lesson Exemplar: The Complete Teacher's Guide + Free Download (All Quarters, All Subjects)
If you’re a Grade 1 teacher in the Philippines, chances are you’ve typed “Grade 1 Matatag Lesson Exemplar” into a search bar at least once — maybe more. You need them urgently, you need them complete, and ideally, you need them for free.
The good news? You’re in exactly the right place.
This guide covers everything you need to know about Grade 1 Matatag Lesson Exemplars: what they are, how they’re structured, what subjects they cover across all four quarters, how to download them for free, and how to actually use them well in your classroom. Whether you’re a first-year teacher trying to figure out the new format or a veteran educator adapting to the MATATAG shift, this article has you covered.
Table of Contents
What Is the MATATAG Curriculum?
Before we dive into lesson exemplars, let’s quickly ground ourselves in the bigger picture.
The MATATAG Curriculum is the Department of Education’s (DepEd) revised K to 10 educational framework, officially launched in August 2023 and implemented in phases beginning School Year 2024–2025. It is designed to address a very specific and urgent problem: Filipino students were falling behind.
In the 2018 PISA rankings, the Philippines placed last among participating countries in Mathematics, Science, and Reading Comprehension. By 2022, a World Bank report found that 91% of Filipino 10-year-olds struggled with basic reading comprehension.
The MATATAG Curriculum was the answer to this crisis. Its name is an acronym with four pillars:
- MA – Make the curriculum relevant to produce competent, job-ready, and responsible citizens
- TA – Take steps to accelerate delivery of basic education facilities and services
- TA – Take good care of learners by promoting well-being and inclusive education
- G – Give support to teachers to teach better
For Grade 1 specifically, one of the most meaningful changes is the reduction of subjects — from seven learning areas down to five. This isn’t just about fewer books in a bag. It’s about giving young learners (and their teachers) the time and space to actually master foundational skills before moving on.
What Is a Lesson Exemplar?
A Lesson Exemplar (LE) is essentially a high-quality, detailed sample lesson plan provided by DepEd to guide teachers in delivering instruction aligned with the MATATAG Curriculum.
Think of it this way: if the Curriculum Guide is the map, the Lesson Exemplar is the turn-by-turn GPS directions.
Lesson Exemplars are not meant to be followed robotically — they are models that show teachers what excellent, standards-aligned teaching looks like. They:
- Outline learning objectives clearly
- Identify content standards and performance standards
- Provide step-by-step teaching procedures for each day of the week (Day 1 to Day 5)
- Suggest teaching strategies and learner-centered approaches
- Include assessment methods and formative checks
- Promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and values integration
“Lesson Exemplars provide teachers with detailed lesson plans that outline the learning objectives, content, teaching strategies, and assessment methods aligned with the MATATAG Curriculum’s standards.”
The key word here is guide. A good teacher takes the exemplar as a starting point and adapts it to the real human beings sitting in front of them.
Download the Grade 1 Matatag Lesson Exemplar below!
Grade 1 Matatag Lesson Exemplar Quarter 1
Grade 1 Matatag Lesson Exemplar Quarter 2
Grade 1 Matatag Lesson Exemplar Quarter 3
Grade 1 Matatag Lesson Exemplar Quarter 4
Grade 1 Subjects Under MATATAG
One of the most important things to understand is the new subject structure for Grade 1. Under MATATAG, the five learning areas are:
Learning Area | Description |
Language and Reading & Literacy (LRL) | Core foundation — Mother Tongue-Based literacy, oral language, early reading |
Mathematics | Number sense, patterns, measurement, foundational numeracy |
Makabansa | Civics, community awareness, Filipino identity, social studies concepts |
Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) & Health Education | Values formation, character development, personal health |
Arts and Physical Education (APE) | Creative expression, physical development, gross motor skills |
A quick note on Language and Reading & Literacy: This is considered the central pillar of Grade 1 MATATAG. The goal is to build strong Mother Tongue-based literacy that creates a pathway toward Filipino and English proficiency in later grades. If Grade 1 learners leave the year reading and communicating confidently in their first language, everything else becomes easier.
In practice, you’ll find lesson exemplars labeled as:
- LANGUAGE 1 — focused on oral and written language skills
- READING AND LITERACY 1 — phonics, decoding, reading comprehension
- MATHEMATICS 1
- MAKABANSA 1
- GMRC 1
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Structure of a Grade 1 MATATAG Lesson Exemplar
Every official Grade 1 MATATAG Lesson Exemplar follows a standardized format. Here’s a breakdown of the key sections:
Part I: Curriculum Content, Standards, and Lesson Competencies
This section is a five-day matrix (Day 1 to Day 5) that includes:
- A. Content Standards — What students should know
- B. Performance Standards — What students should be able to do
- C. Learning Competency — Specific skill or concept targeted for the week
- D. Learning Objectives — Daily, observable goals
- E. Content — Topic or lesson title per day
- F. Integration — Cross-curricular or values connections
Part II: Learning Resources
Lists all materials needed — textbooks, visual aids, manipulatives, digital resources, and references aligned with the MATATAG Curriculum Guides.
Part III: Teaching and Learning Procedure
This is the heart of the exemplar, structured around DepEd’s Instructional Design Framework (IDF) with four phases:
- Engage (Activating Prior Knowledge / Mind & Mood) — Captures attention, recalls previous lessons, and sets the emotional tone for learning
- Explore — Students investigate, discover, and inquire about new concepts
- Experience — Hands-on, authentic tasks where learners apply what they’ve discovered
- Empathize — Values formation, reflection, and connecting learning to real life
Part IV: Remarks and Reflection
Teachers record what worked, what didn’t, and adjustments for future lessons. This section is crucial for professional growth and is often checked during classroom observations.
Sample Weekly Flow (Reading and Literacy)
To give you a clearer picture, here’s what a typical week might look like under a Reading and Literacy Lesson Exemplar:
Day | Focus |
Day 1 | Activate prior knowledge; introduce new vocabulary |
Day 2 | Phonemic awareness or phonics skill development |
Day 3 | Guided reading with a short story or decodable text |
Day 4 | Writing activity or comprehension check |
Day 5 | Review, assessment, and values integration |
Grade 1 Lesson Exemplars by Quarter
Here’s your master reference for all four quarters of Grade 1 MATATAG Lesson Exemplars, including what’s typically covered each term.
Quarter 1 — Weeks 1–8 (July–September)
Themes & Focus Areas:
- Getting to know oneself, family, and school community
- Introduction to early literacy: letter sounds, syllables, high-frequency words
- Number concepts 1–10, basic operations
- Community helpers and Filipino identity (Makabansa)
- Basic health and hygiene habits (GMRC)
Subjects Available:
- Language 1 (Q1)
- Reading and Literacy 1 (Q1)
- Mathematics 1 (Q1)
- Makabansa 1 (Q1)
- GMRC 1 (Q1)
Files are available for FREE download — see the download section below.
Quarter 2 — Weeks 1–8 (October–December)
Themes & Focus Areas:
- Expanding vocabulary; reading short stories and poems
- Number operations, place value, introduction to addition/subtraction
- Community and neighborhood exploration (Makabansa)
- Respect, sharing, and cooperation (GMRC)
- Creative arts and motor development (APE)
Subjects Available:
- Language 1 (Q2)
- Reading and Literacy 1 (Q2)
- Mathematics 1 (Q2)
- Makabansa 1 (Q2)
- GMRC 1 (Q2)
Files are available for FREE download.
Quarter 3 — Weeks 1–8 (January–February)
Themes & Focus Areas:
- Community awareness: home, school, and barangay
- Decoding high-frequency words; retelling stories (e.g., “Didi’s Colorful Treasure,” “Billy to the Rescue”)
- Measurements, basic geometry, patterns
- Appreciation for community workers and civic responsibility
- Cooperation, responsibility, respect for others
Subjects Available:
- Language 1 (Q3)
- Reading and Literacy 1 (Q3)
- Mathematics 1 (Q3)
- Makabansa 1 (Q3)
- GMRC 1 (Q3)
Files are available for FREE download.
Quarter 4 — Weeks 1–8 (March–April)
Themes & Focus Areas:
- More complex reading comprehension and writing tasks
- Advanced number operations and word problems
- Philippine culture, traditions, and national identity (Makabansa)
- Responsible citizenship and environmental care (GMRC)
- End-of-year performance tasks and assessments
Subjects Available:
- Language 1 (Q4)
- Reading and Literacy 1 (Q4)
- Mathematics 1 (Q4)
- Makabansa 1 (Q4)
- GMRC 1 (Q4)
Files are available for FREE download.
Disclaimer:
Some educational materials may be inspired by or aligned with DepEd curriculum standards.
However:
All materials uploaded or created are intended to support teachers and students.
If any copyrighted content is unintentionally shared, please contact us here depedlibre@gmail.com immediately for removal or proper attribution.
We respect intellectual property rights and respond promptly to valid copyright concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are Grade 1 MATATAG Lesson Exemplars mandatory to follow?
A: Lesson Exemplars are official DepEd materials and serve as the instructional framework teachers are expected to follow. However, teachers are encouraged to adapt them to their specific learners, context, and available resources. Always check with your School Head for local guidelines.
Q: Can I use the MATATAG Lesson Exemplar as my Daily Lesson Log (DLL)?
A: The Lesson Exemplar and the DLL are related but not identical. The LE provides the week-long plan and instructional model; the DLL is your daily record. Many schools accept an adapted version of the LE as a DLL — confirm with your principal.
Q: Are the files in Word (.docx) format so I can edit them?
A: Yes! Most downloadable Lesson Exemplars are available in both Word (.docx) and PDF formats. The .docx version allows you to personalize, adapt, and add your school’s header information.
Q: What if I can’t find the exemplar for a specific week?
A: DepEd and affiliated educational websites upload new materials on a rolling basis. If a specific week isn’t available yet, check back in a few days — or use the closest available week as a template and adapt it yourself.
Q: Is there a Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) that goes with each Lesson Exemplar?
A: Yes! Learning Activity Sheets are companion materials that reinforce the concepts in each Lesson Exemplar. These are also available for free download from the same sources listed above.
Q: Do these lesson exemplars apply to SY 2025–2026?
A: Yes. The MATATAG Curriculum is being rolled out in phases. Grade 1 was among the first grade levels fully covered, and updated exemplars continue to be released each school year.
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