This paper describes a project implemented in one first grade classroom to incorporate learning strategies in the process of group development of curriculum planning and development of instructional activities. The teacher used dialogue, coaching, modeling, questioning, and reinforcement with the students to make prominent the language and thinking skills used in the curriculum development process. Three interrelated steps are described: (1) selecting the target theme (the focus for developing the curriculum); (2) establishing guiding questions to serve as the scope and sequence; and (3) designing the classroom instructional activities. (DB)