Part 1 follows the March sisters?Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy?as they navigate life in a modest household, relying on each other for support and finding joy in simple moments. Key events include preparing for Christmas, interacting with their neighbors, and meeting Laurie, the boy from the Laurence household. Each sister's distinct personality and dreams come to light: Jo's spirited pursuit of becoming a writer, Beth's quiet love for music, and their collective efforts to overcome life's challenges through familial love and small joys.

I. Playing Pilgrims
II. A Merry Christmas
III. The Laurence Boy
IV. Burdens
V. Being Neighborly
VI. Beth finds the Palace Beautiful
VII. Amy's Valley of Humiliation
VIII. Jo meets Apollyon
IX. Meg goes to Vanity Fair
X. The P. C. and P. O.
XI. Experiments
XII. Camp Laurence
XIII. Castles in the Air
XIV. Secrets
XV. A Telegram