Kindergarten
The Language Arts curriculum for kindergarten uses direct instruction to explicitly teach students decoding skills, comprehension skills, literary skills, and study skills. Students begin in phonemic awareness, learning how to pronounce sounds, sequence from left to right, blend sounds orally, and identify rhyming sounds. Students learn to read short vowels, long vowels, voiced consonants, unvoiced consonants, and sound combinations. Students also learn word structure, comprehension strategies, and begin writing stories.
Kindergarten children develop mathematical skills through "hands-on" activities and games. They become familiar with numbers 1-110 by counting by 1s, 2s, and 5s. The concepts of graphing, telling time, number patterns, fractions, and money are introduced. Children compare a variety of objects using their length, weight and volume; estimate measures; and use measurement tools. Number stories provide a way for young children to read and write numbers. Games are used as a concrete way of introducing a variety of topics, including the concepts of fairness and chance.
The beginning of science guides young learners to observe ways that plants and animals - including humans - impact their environments. Students investigate how forces affect the way objects move, and how weather changes over time in recognizable patterns.
The kindergarten social studies curriculum, "Myself and Others", is designed to help students gain an increased awareness of themselves and the world around them. Using the framework of “Myself and Others,” students learn about the social studies disciplines of history, geography, civics and government, and economics. Using events from their own lives, they begin to explore and learn the basic historical concept of time and to distinguish past, present, and future. They develop the geographic concept of space by learning positional words and recognizing that maps and globes represent places in the world. To lay the foundation for the study of civics and government, students identify the flag as an important symbol of the United States. They also act as classroom citizens by following appropriate rules for individual and group activities and decision making. An awareness of economics is developed as students connect familiar economic wants to how those wants are met. Throughout the year students are introduced to simple core values of democracy as they learn to respond appropriately to classroom issues and individual responses.
Students go to Physical Education class for 50 minutes per week. During these classes students are given opportunities to develop Gross Motor skills and coordination. A variety of objects used in physical education will assist students’ development of eye, hand, and foot coordination. Students will be assessed on some locomotor skills, movements and actions. Students will also develop positive characteristics and attitudes conducive to physical fitness through exercise and activities. Through organized activities and game play, students develop a sense of fair play, and cooperation with others. Fitness components consist of but are not limited to endurance, upper body strength, core strength and flexibility.
The visual art curriculum for kindergarten in a full-day setting is taught by a visual art specialist. This highly structured, sequential framework has been specially designed to provide developmentally appropriate skills and knowledge while honing creativity, appreciation, historical understanding, and the ability to discuss and analyze art. In kindergarten, students will develop an awareness of two- and three-dimensional forms, manipulate art tools, be exposed to famous works of art, and learn to use a wide array of art materials. Throughout the year, student art may be displayed in individual school buildings and throughout the community.
An elementary music specialist teaches Vocal/general music in a full-day kindergarten setting. Students learn to make and respond to music through age-appropriate songs, dances, and activities. Basic instruction includes: Exploring their singing voices and other sounds; keeping a steady beat utilizing physical movement, dances, games, and rhythm instruments; learning a variety of traditional songs; and creating cultural awareness through songs, instruments, and ethnic dances.
An elementary technology teacher teaches Kindergarten students the beginning of digital citizenship, typing, how technology is used in our world, how to create and communicate with technology, as well as research and problem solving with technology. Kindergarten students have technology once per week for 50 minutes.
Elementary students in South Lake are taught either Spanish or Mandarin. In kindergarten students learn greetings, using manners, basics of language, and family. Kindergarten students have foreign language once per week for 50 minutes.