Kindergarten

In Kindergarten, using a thematic and project approach that integrates the subject areas, students will have the opportunities to develop meaningful skills, processes and understandings in each of the following areas:

Social/Emotional Development

• Independence, self-help skills and responsibility for actions and learning
• Positive social and conflict resolution skills
• Sense of identity and respect for each other’s uniqueness
• Appropriate expression of feelings

Cognitive Development

• Sounds, shape and formation of letters
• Effective use of English language
• Concept of numbers: counting, writing, one-to-one correspondence
• Concepts of shape, size, color, patterns
• Introduction to science subjects through themes such as living/nonliving things, plants, animals, seasons, and the five senses
• Concept of community and their role within it
• Basic computer skills through software and internet
• Beginning music and movement skills

Language Arts

Early reading skills, including learning about letters’ sounds and shapes, printing of capital and lower case letters, and pre-reading skills such as decoding consonant-vowel- consonant words eventually moving towards greater reading fluency. Kindergarten students learn sight words and enjoy working with rhyming words. They begin exploring the creative writing process by understanding parts of a story and the role of authors and illustrators.

Mathematics

Pattern recognition and description; review of numbers; number relationships to 10; sorting and classifying and measurement through a study of math as part of daily life; calendar patterns, attendance, block cleanup and the daily schedule; geometry, symmetry and spatial awareness through block building and art projects.

Social Studies

An exploration of how basic needs are met, families are constituted and holidays are observed in similar and different ways throughout the world.

Science

Using hands-on activities, students learn about physical science including Matter, Forces and Motion, Simple Machines, Sound, Magnetism, and Energy.

Work and Play

Time to play, learn, explore and experience through role playing and problem solving; block building, board games, puzzles and multimedia art projects.

Library

Weekly period for listening to stories, working on story-related projects and checking out a book.

Art

Exploration of many media through work in two and three dimensions; development of strong fine motor skills.

Music

Exploration of high and low, loud and soft, slow and fast, up and down, and beat and rhythm through singing and percussion instruments.

Physical Education

Three general physical education classes a week focus on development of spatial awareness, body control and basic locomotor skills; introduction of basic sports skills, including throwing, catching, kicking, dribbling; proper jumping and landing techniques; coordination, confidence and awareness of self; social interaction and basic health and nutrition concepts.