Creative Arts Charter School
Elementary School

Kindergarten

Language Arts

The kindergarten year is essential to building a framework and basis for literacy skills and concepts. This is accomplished in a variety of ways and across all curricular areas. Oral communication skills, listening, letter and sound recognition as well as an understanding of the written word as a form of communication are all essential components of the kindergarten language arts curriculum. Students practice their oral communication skills through dictation, public speaking and storyplays on a regular basis.

Individual assessment and goals are set for each child in the area of letter and sound recognition. Group lessons consisting of consonant and corresponding sound recognition as well as beginning letter sound occur on a daily basis. Concepts such as alphabetical order are demonstrated by using class lists other aspects of early literacy skills are introduced in kindergarten throughout the year.

Books are used throughout the curriculum as resources to be listened to and looked at, both formally and informally. This interaction with books occurs during shared reading with the whole group, one on one time with an adult, with peers, and with small groups of children. Components of books such as title, author, and illustrator are highlighted. Leveled books and trade literature are used.

Mathematics

In kindergarten, learning mathematics takes place in both formal and informal settings. Real life experiences and integrated themes are used whenever possible to motivate the children and create excitement about new concepts. Concrete math materials are used such as teddy bear counters, Unifix cubes and unit blocks in ways so that the students can "discover" ideas, concepts and mathematical properties.

For instance, while baking bread, math concepts such as measurements and comparative quantities are taught. During art exploration, concepts such as naming and comparing shapes are introduced and reinforced. Skills fostered in the kindergarten math curriculum are: sorting by single and then multiple attributes, creating subgroups, serration and observing and creating patterns.

In addition to one-on-one instruction with the teacher, students participate in whole group math lessons during which the teacher introduces identified math concepts such as comparison, identification of numbers and corresponding amounts and values.

Social Studies

Through daily social interactions, the children begin to form concepts of self, family and community. They begin to recognize self and others as having shared as well as different characteristics. Through a thematic based curriculum and frequent related field trips, the students are able to identify similarities and differences in habits, patterns of living and culture.

By taking care of their physical environment as well as making joint class decisions, the students are introduced to the concepts of rights and responsibilities. Through discussion and curriculum themes, the children begin to understand the reasons for rules and for leadership. Additional social studies concepts introduced in kindergarten include how people affect the environment, beginning geography, basics of habitats, and recycling.

Science

In kindergarten, the science curriculum focuses on the students developing observation skills and engaging directly with the natural world. Science concepts introduced in Kindergarten include identifying the differences between living and non-living things and respecting nature and the environment. Formal units of study, such as magnets, microscopes, ladybugs, and animal skulls, are introduced throughout the year. Whenever possible, science curriculum is integrated with other curriculum areas. For instance, cooking is often incorporated into the science of how things change, and art is used extensively as the children observe and record the natural world. A variety of non-fiction and fiction books are also used to support the kindergarten science curriculum.