Kindergarten is a new and important step in children’s school life. It introduces them to a classroom environment and teaches many skills that will help them learn throughout their lives.
For instance, kindergartners learn to identify and name shapes, and they start to understand the properties of two-dimensional and basic three-dimensional shapes. They use math manipulatives to help them grasp abstract concepts like numbers.
Language
Language development is important in kindergarten, as children need to have a basic level of proficiency to follow directions and understand texts. This early literacy experience can lead to higher levels of academic achievement in later grades.
Oral Language: Children learn to speak clearly and use words to express ideas and questions. They also develop an awareness of phonological systems, which relate letters to their sounds and vocabularies that allow them to make connections between words.
Literacy: Children explore experimental writing, which can appear as scribbles but will become more meaningful as they learn upper and lowercase letters and match them to their sounds. They will begin to recognize their names and write them, as well as count objects and practice basic addition and subtraction.
Math
In kindergarten, math skills focus on number sense and counting and build on preschool learning. Some worry that pushing children to learn more advanced content like addition and subtraction may seem like unpleasant work for 5- and 6-year-olds and interfere with play-based learning.
Kindergarteners also develop an understanding of patterns. They use everyday objects to sort things into categories based on their size, color, or form. Online tutors often use virtual manipulatives to teach this skill.
In addition to this, kindergarteners are taught to understand basic numbers and shapes and how to group them together in a sequence (like three apples plus two apples equals five apples). Counting, understanding numbers and shapes, and comparing size help kids develop deep thought. These skills are predictive of future academic success, research has shown.
Social Studies
Social studies is an important curricular area for kindergarten because it encourages students to become citizens, respect others, and value their own culture. It also teaches them to identify and address real world problems, foster classroom communities that support inclusive values, and develop critical thinking skills.
Students explore family traditions, and the importance of respecting and valuing differences in cultures and religions. They learn about national culture, focusing on our country’s symbols and values, then move to explore other countries around the globe.
Students discover basic geography, learning about continents, oceans, and landforms. They also study money, comparing needs and wants, and practice wise spending habits. They learn about different jobs, and how they help our community. They also examine how technology affects us and the world around them.
Science
Science is a natural part of children’s learning and exploration. In fact, it is important that kindergarten students learn about science early because this helps them develop a foundation that supports future understanding of scientific concepts.
The nature of kindergarten science focuses on developing observation skills and a sense of wonder. This can be done through reading picture books about animals, plants and weather as well as doing simple experiments to support their curiosity.
When young students observe how a plant grows, or how a tadpole metamorphoses into a frog, it provides them with opportunities to practice their knowledge of science through drawing and discussing what they have observed. These experiences also help to develop critical thinking skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
Art
A child’s artistic expression allows her to communicate emotions, experiences, and ideas. Art can also help children develop perceptual skills such as recognizing bright and dark colors, distinguishing between shapes and sizes of objects, and understanding that one object can make changes in another object.
For kindergartners, the process of creating art is as important as the final product. Focusing on the process helps kids work with intrinsic motivation and teaches them to express themselves freely without worrying about what others might think. For more creative inspiration, check out this big list of kindergarten art projects that includes activities for every medium!