Kindergarten Curriculum

Language Arts

Students will be exposed to Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening for Many Purposes

• Listen to and enjoy literature (rhyme, fairy tale, story)
• Use mass media (newspapers,radio, television, CD-ROM)
• Conduct research (locate, observe/gather, analyze, conclude)
• Listen/dictate/present instructions, a chart, thank you letter, letter of request. report, summary
• Use word processing and the internet

Reading Readiness Skills

• Name the capital letters in alphabetical and random order
• Name the lower case letters in alphabetical and random order
• Know the consonant sounds
• Name words which rhyme with clue word
• Name words which start with a specific sound
• Recognize reading is from left to right, top to bottom, and from front to back

Writing Skills

• Print first name, the alphabet and numbers
• Print from left to right and from top to bottom
• Print capital letters
• Print lower-case letters
• Write numbers 0 to 15
• Print first name clearly using correct letter formation
• Express ideas in print (scribbling, letters, whole words, sentences)

Speaking Skills

• Tell thoughts in a group discussion
• Share ideas and feelings
• Answer and ask questions in complete thoughts
• Tell ideas in sequence and know when they are done
• Speak loud enough to be heard but not too loud
• Wait to take a turn, not distract others, and look at others when they talk
• Tell a story from a picture
• Tell if a story is factual or imaginary
• Recite a rhyme with a group and alone
• Talk about rhymes, fairy tales, and stories
• Tell a story or an idea in sequence by drawing
• Tell what their own drawings are about (skill is to verbally describe own drawings)

Listening Skills

• Look at the speaker
• Be quiet when someone is speaking
• Keep feet and hands to themselves and not bother others
• Avoid interrupting
• Listen to nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and short stories for important details
• Ask and answer questions about important details in complete thoughts
• Know when a story or fairy tale is over

Science

The Physical Setting:

Earth and Celestial Phenomena

• Identify the sun, moon, and earth
• Differentiate between night and day
• Explain the characteristics of the changing seasons

Matter

• Tell the three states of matter, i.e. solid, liquid, gas
• Explain that objects have different weights
• Describe how different objects look, feel, smell, and sound

Energy

• Make distinction among heat levels (cool, warm, hot, and cold)
• List sources of heat (furnace, stove, sun, lights, etc.)

Motion

• Tell the different ways objects can move (fast, slow, zigzag, circles)
• Explain that in order for things to move you need a push

The Living Environment - Similarities and differences in living things

• Explain some common needs all living things possess
• Demonstrate the differences between living and non-living things

The Human Body

• Tell why it is important to maintain good oral hygiene
• Explain how teeth grow and are replaced by permanent teeth

Interdependence of living things

• Give examples of food sources

Social Studies

The social studies program at the kindergarten level focuses on helping students develop awareness of self as a unique, growing individual.  Social interaction skills are integral to the kindergarten program.  Children also begin to learn about their role as citizens by accepting rights and responsibilities in the classroom.

Students should understand the concept of:

Myself and others

• People are alike and different in many ways
• Each person is unique and important, with their own needs, wants, likes, dislikes, talents and abilities.
• All people need others
• People change over time
• We learn about other customs and traditions through stories, legends, and music

My family and other families

• Families are alike and different

My school and school community

• What a school is

My neighborhood

• My neighborhood can be located on a map
• Different people live in a neighborhood

Places can be located on maps and globes (home, school, neighborhood, and community)

• Land and water masses can be located on maps and on a globe
• The United States can be located on a map and a globe

Mathematics
Kindergarten students will be introduced to the following Math concepts and will experience one or more of the following skills when appropriate.  Many activities are done in a group setting.

Talk and write clearly about math

• Create and solve word problems
• Use math, vocabulary, pictures, diagrams, and symbols
• Explain how an answer was derived

Use problem-solving strategies

• Draw a picture to illustrate a number operation
• Record and interpret information on a table or chart
• Use manipulatives
• Find a pattern
• Predict and check
• Make a list
• Use logical reasoning
• Act out problems through play
• Brainstorm

Number and numeration

• Develop an awareness of concepts, words, and symbols related to number
• Prepare for number concept development through sorting and classifying activities
• Count, read and write cardinal numbers: 1-5
• Use comparative language

Operations with whole numbers

• Investigate various numerical problems
• Perform number operations (addition and subtraction) with manipulatives

Operations with fractions

• Develop an awareness of fractions in daily use
• Recognize fractional concepts of whole and half

Probability and statistics

• Discuss certainty and uncertainty of events
• Create and discuss graphs
• Participate in estimating activities
• Observe, extend, and create patterns

Geometry and measurement

• Introduce geometry and measurement concepts
• Observe geometric shapes in the environment
• Introduce real money
• Explore time to the hour and half-hour
• Explore various uses of the calendar

Library / Media Skills

Students should be able to:

• Enjoy and appreciate various types of literature
• Understand that library materials are for everybody and that they should be shared
• Use library materials with care
• Return library materials without assistance