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| Home > Parents > Curriculum > Elementary > Kindergarten |
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| Kindergarten Curriculum |
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Kindergartens in Palo Alto schools are committed to maintaining students’ natural curiosity and confidence in themselves as learners while developing the student behaviors that will enable them to become active and focused learners in a classroom setting. The following summary of the instructional program provides an overview of the Kindergarten year. Expectations are, of course, modified or expanded to meet a child’s needs and abilities. The Kindergarten program builds on skills and knowledge children learn at home or pre-school. The manner of instruction – motivation, grouping, pacing, reinforcing and reteaching – determined by each teacher as he or she works to meet individual needs.
Curriculum standards are what all grade-level students are expected
to know and be able to do by the end of a school year. Key standards
of kindergarten education are highlighted below. If you would like
a summary description of PAUSD standards, you may download Curriculum
Summary for Kindergarten  .
If you have questions about curriculum, please contact your child's classroom teacher.
Jump to:
Reading-Language Arts | Mathematics | Science | Social Studies
Visual & Perfoming Arts | Physical Education
| Library Media Program
In Kindergarten, each student will . . .
Reading-Language
Arts
Reading and Writing Skills- show interest in and enjoy books
- actively participate in shared reading activities
- build awareness that meaning comes from print
- know that books and printed material are read top to bottom, and left to right
- ‘read’ pictures in books
- retell familiar stories
- demonstrate phonemic awareness
- use increasing semantic, phonetic, and structural skills to become an effective reader
- know all letter names and sounds
- retell stories; make predictions about events; personalize meaning from text
- begin to write to communicate
- use phonetic spelling, write name correctly, form letters of the alphabet with some accuracy
- use correct pencil grip
- begin to put spaces between letters and words
Speaking and Listening Skills
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build active and responsive listening skills through experiences with conversation, stories, songs, and poems
- share and take part in class discussions
- participate in singing, storytelling, drama, and poetry activities
- share information and ideas, speaking audibly in complete sentences
- follow two-step directions
Mathematics
Number Sense and Operations
- counts out loud from 1 - 30
- arranges numbers in order from 1-20 and recognizes when they are out of order
- recognizes numbers 1 - 20
- counts a group of objects with 1:1 correspondence up to 20
- understands the numerals 1-9 and number 10, and the quantities they represent
- demonstrates fluency with number combinations up to 5 (e.g., 2 + 3 =__)
- demonstrates fluency with number complements up to 5 (e.g., 2 + __ = 5)
- uses concrete objects to determine the answers to addition and subtraction problems (for number combinations up to 10)
Algebra and Functions
- recognizes and describes simple patterns (e.g., ab, abc, abb)
- creates and extends simple patterns
- creates and solves own story problems using addition and subtraction with sums and/or differences up to 5
Measurement and Geometry
- makes direct comparisons of length, weight, and volume of objects (e.g., note which object is shorter, longer, taller, lighter, heavier, or holds more)
- identifies and describes basic 2D and 3D geometric objects
Data Analysis and Probability
- interprets a group-created graph using terms such as more
than, less than, the same as, and altogether
- identifies, sorts and classifies objects by one attribute
and identifies objects that do not belong to a particular group
Science
Scientific Process Skills
- make observations using one or more of the five senses
- use scientific tools such as the hand lens
- sort objects based on their attributes
Encounter the "big ideas" of Life, Physical,
and Earth Sciences through participation in units of study: Wood,
and Life Lab which features living, non-living things and soil in
a garden
- determine that all living things need water
- know that plants and animals have specific structures and
survival needs
- name parts of a plant (e.g., stem, leaf, flower)
- observe similarities and differences between living and non-living
things
- through investigation, observe, and discuss the properties
of wood
- know wood comes from trees
- know that people use wood in a variety of ways
- know that soil provides a home for a variety of living things
Social Studies
Participate in classroom activities around the year-long theme: Learning and Working Together, Now and Long Ago
- understand differences and similarities in oneself and others
- understand how to take turns and cooperate with group rules and responsibilities as they carry out short tasks and classroom jobs
- demonstrate knowledge of important American symbols, historical events, legends, presidents, and leaders
- distinguish between land and water on maps and globes and locate general areas referenced in historical legends and stories
Visual & Performing Arts
Visual Arts
- recognize and describe simple patterns found in the environment
and in works of art
- paint pictures expressing ideas about family and neighborhood
- look at and discuss works of art from a variety of times and
places
- describe the literal and expressive content, in selected works
of art
Music and the Performing Arts
- read, notate, listen to and describe music
- sing songs with accuracy and use hand percussion instruments
to play rhythmic and melodic ostinatos
- sing and play songs from diverse cultures
- make judgments about the quality of a musical performance
- describe how music communicates ideas and moods
Physical Education
- improve in balance, locomotor, hand-eye coordination, ball
skills
- increase body strength through physical activities
- develop body awareness in spatial relationships
- become aware of fair play practices and abide by group game
rules
- demonstrate good health practices (e.g., nutrition, rest,
health care)
Library Media Program
- Information Literacy: Students learn to find, evaluate and use information in meaningful and responsible ways
- Library and Information Usage: Students learn to practice ethical and responsible behavior
- Literature Appreciation: Students learn to choose, enjoy and respond to a wide variety of literature
Revised August 2006 |
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