St. Maria Goretti
Kindergarten Curriculum

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Religion

Our Religion Curriculum is based on seven goals:

1. Sacred Scripture: Sacred Scripture (God's Word) is emphasized through helping students become familiar with the Bible. Students are encouraged to look at the Bible and hold it. They listen to stories from the Bible and will identify that all of life and creation are gifts from God, Who loves us.
   
2. Doctrine: Basic teachings of the Church are emphasized. Students will identify Jesus as God's only Son. Students will recognize that God sent His Son, Jesus, to teach us how to live good lives. They will know that God gave us the gift of life and that He loves us.
   
3. Sacraments: Kindergartners will learn and talk about experiences of Baptism. They will be helped to recognize that we are welcomed into the Christian Community and Family through Baptism. Students will attend and participate in Eucharistic Liturgy and Liturgy of the Word.
   
4. Community: Kindergartners will understand and share examples of what it means to belong to a family and also what it means to belong to their school / religion class. They will learn about appropriate behaviors in a community.
   
5. Service: Students will share ways that they can help others. We discuss how to care responsibly for property. Kindergarten students will discuss how to express appreciation for God's creation.
   
6. Prayer: Prayer is an important part of the kindergarten student's curriculum. They will recite and demonstrate the Sign of the Cross, say Grace before meals, demonstrate and learn appropriate and respectful participation during liturgies and prayer services. Students will learn how they can best pray and participate in formal prayers.
   
7. Spirituality: Spirituality will be developed through identifying that God is everywhere and that God loves each of us.

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Language Arts / Reading

1. Our Language Arts Curriculum is based on a Reading Readiness program.
   
2. Students will recognize similarities in letters, words and pictures. They will learn to sequence pictures to tell a story and recall details of a story and predict what will happen next.
   
3. Students will learn through discussion how to recognize rhyming words and opposites.
   
4. Children will identify both the upper and lower case alphabet.
   
5. Kindergartners will work on learning beginning, middle and ending sounds, recognition of high frequency sight words, how to print simple words and how to dictate sentences.
   
6. Students will learn how to print their first name and the correct process of letter formation.
   
7. Students will recognize how written text and illustrations are connected to convey a meaning.
   
8. Oral Language
   
9. Kindergartners will learn to listen in order to understand and speak clearly through participation in group reading and story telling.
   
10. Students will learn to relate experiences using complete sentences and develop speaking skills. They will learn to participate in effective discussions while volunteering relevant information, asking relevant questions, answering directly and responding politely to others.
    
11. With a variety of methods, we fill the day with language. We engage our children and teach them according to their needs, through reading, writing, phonics, singing and expression.
    

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Math

1. We believe that building a strong foundation in math is fundamental to future success in the primary grades. To achieve this, we teach number recognition, patterns, numeration, geometry, addition, and money.
   
2. Patterns
   
3. Students attempt to find patterns using color, size or shape. They learn to copy, create and extend patterns using concrete objects and manipulatives.
   
4. Number Recognition and Counting
   
5. Students learn to count from 0 - 30, they learn to count to 100 by tens, order number by tens, order (sequence) numbers 0 - 20.
   
6. They learn to write numbers 0 - 20, learn to using 1-1 correspondence.
   
7. They learn to compare groups in order to determine "more", "less", "same" (equal to).
   
8. Addition and Subtraction
   
9. Students will learn basic number facts using concrete objects to 10.

Geometry:

1. Kindergarteners learn to identify circles, squares, rectangles and triangles.
   
2. They will to compare, sort, and classify objects into groups.
   
3. They will work with data to understand and read graphs.
   
4. Students will learn to identify coin recognition and use of money.
   
5. We believe that building a strong foundation in math is fundamental to future success in the primary grades. To achieve this, we teach number recognition, patterns, numeration, geometry, addition, and money.

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Social Studies

1. We introduce the children to the people & places in the world around them. We talk about school, safety, families, and community helpers. We also discuss current events and other cultures.
   
2. Enrichment of activities with field trips when possible.
   

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Political Science / Citizenship

1. Kindergartners will learn to identify responsibility to family, peers, church, and community including the need to be civil and respect diversity.
   
2. They will learn to recognize the Pledge of Allegiance.
   
3. Students will learn to identify our State and the National flag.
   
4. They will be expected to participate in classroom responsibilities.
   
5. Teachers strive to explain how rules and behavior that promote cooperation.
   
6. The students are taught what behavior is expected of him / her at school.
   
7. Students practice behaviors that promote cooperation.
   
8. Students are encouraged to make appropriate choices and to discuss consequences of inappropriate choices.
   

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Economics

1. Teachers explain that people earn money by working, exchange money for goods, and save money.
2. Discuss differences between basic needs and wants.
3. Give examples of various types of jobs.
4. Discuss reducing, recycling and celebrating Earth Day.

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Behavioral Sciences

1. Teachers will describe how families are alike and different.
2. Kindergartners will learn how to recognize how different cultures enrich our daily lives.
3. Students will learn to identify and describe institutions and their contributions (school, church, police, firefighters and families). They will learn ways to cooperate and work together.
4. Teachers will give examples of laws, rules in classroom and school community.

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Kindergarten History & Time

1. Students learn to describe and compare differences between old and new.
2. They learn to describe self and family in past, present and future terms.
3. They learn to relate to birthdays, days of the week, months of the year.
4. Students discuss values (choices, freedom, fairness).
5. Students will discuss significance of religious, national, state holidays and symbols.

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Science

1. Trees:
   1. Kindergartners will learn to recognize the difference between conifers and broad leaf trees.
   2. They will be able to describe how trees are useful to people, other living things and our environment.
   3. Students will be expected to explain how trees help our environment.
   4. They will come to recognize the parts of trees and their job (bark, fruit, roots, branches, laves, etc.
   5. Teachers and students will discuss different types of trees.
2. Animals: Hibernation, migration, and staying active in the winter.
   1. The class will discuss types of animals: what they do in winter, how they adapted and stay, how they may leave if they don't hibernate, if they do hibernate where these animals go and what they do until the Spring.
   2. Students will learn to explain what they need and how they prepare to survive in winter to hibernate. Children will also attempt to simulate eating habits of birds that stay in winter. Students will learn to recognize why some birds migrate and some do not.
3. Penguins
   1. Students will learn how penguins live and where choose their habitat.
   2. They will learn about wings & tail, web feet, feathers (parts of the body).
   3. The children will learn what penguins eat and how they play.
   4. Children will learn that there over 20 different species of penguins.
   5. Students will have the opportunity to create penguins in an art project.
4. Spiders
   1. Students will learn: Parts of the body, how many legs, what they eat, how they help us, what they eat, they will construct spiders and read further information about spiders.
   2. Students will have the opportunity to create a spider book in an art project.
5. Insects / Butterflies Students will learn 3 parts of the insect:
   1. They will learn how many legs, about antenna, discuss butterflies and their life cycle
   2. Children will learn to compare and contrast with various insects.
   3. Students will have the opportunity to create insects in an art project.
6. Four Seasons
   1. Students will be expected to read, discuss and learn about winter, spring, summer and fall.
   2. Children will discuss seasonal clothes.
   3. They will discuss weather patterns during each season and why the seasons change.
   4. Students and teachers will learn to identify which season it is.
   5. Students will further talk about what animals do during each season.
   6. Students will learn how seasons vary in different parts of the country.

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Health: Healthy Eating Habits and Taking Care of our Teeth

1. Students will discuss and learn about:
   1. Healthy food choices for teeth and body
   2. Proper dental care (flossing, brushing, regular check-ups, etc.
   3. Students will be expected to keep track of brushing for one week.
2. Students will have an art project: to illustrate what they have learned in this unit.