Kindergarten is a big milestone in kids’ lives. It’s their first year of formal education in a classroom with a teacher and other students.
They will learn letters, early number concepts, and develop independence, concentration and social skills. They’ll explore science, social studies and art. They’ll also practice math through counting and learning about teen numbers, shapes, and adding.
Language
Oral language helps kids communicate and express their thoughts and ideas. Kids also learn to follow oral directions and participate in group discussions.
Teachers support children’s social development by encouraging them to interact with classmates and resolve conflicts. And they build their emotional intelligence by teaching kids to recognize and talk about their emotions, such as frustration and anger.
Kindergartners use their growing understanding of letters and sounds to start reading simple words and phrases. They may practice printing uppercase and lowercase letters, match sounds to written symbols, identify the beginning, middle, and end of a word, or search for words with similar syllables or consonant blends. These early literacy skills help kids get a leg up on future academic success, such as in math.
Math
In kindergarten, students learn to count objects and recognize shapes. They also learn to sort, classify and compare. When your kindergartner arranges her toys in groups of trucks, board games or animals, she’s practicing important math concepts.
Kindergarten math lessons use manipulatives to make abstract concepts concrete, making them easier for children to understand and remember. From pattern blocks to explore symmetry and shape, to ten frames to build number sense to fraction pieces to introduce basic fractions, these tools make learning fun and accessible for young children.
Developing basic math skills teaches children how to interpret data and patterns—important for future success in subjects like science, art and business. Celebrate each giggle during a counting game or “aha” moment with manipulatives to foster a positive attitude toward mathematics and encourage kids to keep trying.
Science
Observing and playing with things in their environment are essential science skills for kindergarten. These experiences also support emerging literacy skills. Teachers guide children as they sort and classify objects, observe their movements and those of other animals and make comparisons.
Children are natural scientists, but they need help in transforming curiosity into scientific inquiry. The teacher’s guidance is based on her knowledge of the important concepts that will drive the children’s work (such as the nature of science).
Kindergartners are introduced to a wide range of scientific topics, such as changes in matter (freezing water versus melting it), seasons and weather, animal characteristics, parts of the human body and simple machines (like levers and pulleys). They also learn how to use tools to help them make observations.
Social Studies
Social studies teaches children about the world around them and encourages them to develop their own place within it. Kindergarten students explore a wide variety of cultures, traditions, and holidays, while learning to respect differences in others.
Students learn basic geography, exploring maps and globes to better understand the world they live in. They also become familiar with national symbols, songs, and history.
Teachers use many methods to integrate social studies and content literacy, but more research is needed on effective instructional approaches that maintain a high level of learning in both domains. For example, Harrington (2012) found that primary-grade teachers can use literary picture books to foster learning in both social studies and reading, while Meszaros and Evans (2010) argued that integrating economics benefits both social studies and content literacy instruction.
Art
At this age, 5-year-old students are adventurous and intuitive. They accept the world as it is and may have trouble isolating specific information from a larger pool of knowledge, so art experiences that allow them to compare things that are alike and different work particularly well.
Teach kindergartners about symmetry with this easy butterfly pattern, then let them draw their own unique wings. This project also allows kids to practice tracing and drawing with crayons, as well as use fine motor skills in cutting the shapes out.
Textile art is great for kindergarten because it’s often the kind of art that gets used! Embroidery is perfect for this grade level, as it can build hand-eye coordination while teaching important math concepts. This easy sock craft is another fun way to practice the alphabet, while promoting dexterity and a sense of accomplishment for the kiddos.