Contact the Kindergarten Teachers

Planning Period -- Daily
10:35 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.
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This first six weeks focuses on the need for rules and harmony and the 
importance of being a good listener as well as taking responsibility for 
one's actions.  Citizenship concepts are introduced including: "we are all unique," "we are alike as well as different," and our class is a "family."  We learn about sharing and taking turns, listening without interrupting, and participation.  Finally, a celebration is held to reinforce the learning that has taken place. 

We learn that a system is defined as a group of parts that works together to do a job.  We explore how the parts of a "clicker" ball-point pen work together to do a job.  We further examine other types of systems through many hands-on activities.  We move from the concrete exploration to the abstract concept that the alphabet, numbers, and music are systems as well.  The study culminates with students using classroom building materials to construct their own system. 

The students learn how to use their five senses to gain information about the world around them.  Students are introduced to the use of tools such as balance scales, hand magnifiers, and nonstandard units of measurement.  They will learn how to measure the distance around an object as well as determine if an object sinks or floats.  We also spend time learning how to ask good questions that will help us find out what we need to know.  The students will apply and practice the skills they've learned with objects from the natural environment such as trees and leaves.

We initially spend time developing an understanding about what a connection is.  We learn about concrete connections, such as  toothpaste and  toothbrush.  We also learn about connections between our environment and ourselves.  For example, we explore the connection between the weather we are having and the clothing we choose to wear.  We investigate the connections between an animal's body parts and the way they eat, move and protect themselves.  We make the connection between healthy habits and wellness.  We also explore the outside environment to observe changes and make connections.  Finally, students will have the opportunity to observe live animals in our Animal Research Center.

Students will learn that diversity means the ways objects, animals, plants, and people are unique.  Students will observe the diversity of plants and begin to formulate criteria for living and nonmoving objects.  We explore animals as living things and learn characteristics of living things.  We will learn about animal habitats and the diversity among animals' homes.  Then students will apply what they have learned to create their own diorama of an animal habitat.

In this unit, students will be introduced to the concept of change.  Our focus will be on observing and communicating a change rather than understanding why a change has occurred.  Students will perform a simple experiment and will observe, discuss, and compare changes in themselves.  Next, they will observe and communicate changes that take place among plants and animals.  Students will investigate their own impact on environmental issues, litter, recycling and how they can make changes in the environment.  Finally, the students will make peanut butter and communicate the changes they observe.