KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM
Religion (100 Weekly Minutes)
- Participates in prayer, worship, and devotions
- Recognizes the dignity of each person because he/she is a child of God.
- Attends weekly mass
- Coordinates at least one all school mass
- Learns basic formal prayers
- Recognizes the Bible as the story of God’s people
- Recognizes Creation as a gift from God
- Understands that each individual is a unique child of God with special gifts to share
- Understands the meaning of the sacrament of Baptism
- Learns about the skills and virtues of Christian Family living (Family Life)
- Shares in the missionary effort of the Church through prayer and sacrifice
Language Arts (300 Weekly Minutes)
Reading
- Identifies the upper and lower case alphabet letters by name and sound
- Identifies beginning and ending letter sounds
- Recognizes the difference between a letter and a word
- Sounds out simple words
- Reads simple sentences
- Identifies parts of a book (cover, back, spine)
- Identifies the title, author and illustrator of a book
- Reading levels are assessed using Star Reader
- Comprehension is assessed through Accelerated Reader
- Reading awards are earned through Renaissance Learning
Writing
- Learns to write from left to right and top to bottom
- Learns to print the alphabet in both upper and lower case using controlled paper
- Begins to draw, dictate, and write words using phonetic spelling
- Begins to use capital letters and spaces between words
- Begins to use ending punctuation
- Listening and Speaking
- Begins to use appropriate listening behaviors
- Understands and follows oral directions
- Shares information and ideas, using complete sentences
- Participates in rhymes, stories, songs, and repetitive patterns
Home Reading
Parents are encouraged to participate in daily reading as well as the Scholastic Reading Counts program with their kindergartner. A variety of books are available in the school library and classroom. You may print out a list of acceptable books from the school website: http://www.stbarbara.com
Mathematics (175 Weekly Minutes)
Number Sense
- Identifies and writes numerals to 100
- Identifies ordinal positions (first, next, last)
- Identifies ordinal dates on the calendar (1st-31st)
- Puts numerals in 1-10 sequence
- Associates numbers with members of a set
- Begins to estimate amounts
- Recognizes when an estimate is reasonable
- Applies the concepts of more than, less than, equal, and not equal
- Begins to recognize half and whole
- Begins to identify penny, nickel, dime, quarter, and dollar bill
- Is introduced to simple addition and subtraction
Algebra and Functions
- Identifies, sorts, and classifies objects by attributes
- Identifies, describes, and extends simple patterns
- Measurement and Geometry
- Identifies geometric shapes
- Measures using non-standard units
- Weighs using non-standard units
- Beings to tell time to the hour and half-hour
- Uses the calendar (days of the week and months of the year)
- Demonstrates concept of time (yesterday, today, and tomorrow)
- Names position of objects
Statistics, Data Analysis, and Probability
- Participates in making, using, and recording information using objects, pictures, and picture graphs
- Reads and interprets simple graphs
Science (60 Weekly Minutes)
Physical Science
- Learns that the properties of materials can be observed, measured, and predicted
- Studies different materials and their physical properties
Earth Science
- Realizes that the Earth is composed of land, air, and water
- Understands that resources can be observed through responsibility
Life Science
- Discovers that different types of plants and animals inhabit the earth.
- Investigation and Experimentation
- Asks meaningful questions
- Communicates observations orally and through drawings
Social Studies/History (60 Weekly Minutes)
- Understands that being a Christian citizen means making responsible choices at home, school, and in our community
- Develops an understanding of Catholic values such as love, kindness, honesty, and trust
- Commemorates historical events and people through celebrations and seasons
- Recites the Pledge of Allegiance and sings patriotic songs
- Develops an awareness of our planet Earth and how we can conserve and protect our environment
- Learns how to follow classroom and playground rules and knows the consequences of breaking them
- Develops an awareness of people and their related jobs at school
Computer (30 Weekly Minutes)
- Receives a basic introduction to the computer Identifies and uses letters, number keys, space bar, enter, and back space/delete keys
Physical Education (60 Weekly Minutes)
- Develops motor skills, balance, and ball skills through participation in relays, rhythmic activities, and agility games
- Increases body skills and coordination through exercises and calisthenics
- Develops sport skills and participates in track activities
- Develops an understanding for physical health and nutrition
Fine Arts (60 minutes in Music)
Media
- Learns about visual and tactile perception
- Develops creative expression
- Becomes familiar with visual art heritage
- Participates in analysis and interpretation of art
- Art is incorporated in thematic units throughout the curriculum
Music
- Introduced to concepts of beat, structure, pitch, form, tempo, dynamics, and tone
- Develops creative expression through songs, rhythmic games, use of rhythm instruments
- Experiences and develops attentive listening skills
- Begins to understand historical and cultural heritage
- Develops and appreciation of music
Educational Field Trips
