Kindergarten Curriculum

Kindergarten is a wonderful learning experience here at Covenant Christian Academy. Five and six year olds are eager to learn and by the end of the year, the students demonstrate amazing growth and skills! In addition to the classroom curriculum, children attend weekly music and physical education classes. Creative play and the ongoing development of social skills are an integral part of the kindergarten experience.
 
Language Arts
 
Our beginning reading program emphasizes phonemic awareness (the individual sounds in words) and phonics (blending the individual sounds to make words). When the short vowel sounds are mastered, we begin the consonant sounds. Throughout the year, students progress to reading two-vowel words and words that contain “special sounds” (letter combinations such as sh or ar). By the end of the year, the children read words, sentences, and stories from storybooks. The Language Arts curriculum, Reading Street, by Pearson Scott Foresman emphasizes the five components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
 
Our daily Shared Reading introduces quality children’s literature, imparting to our students a love of reading in a relaxed setting. Songs, poems, games, and “hands-on” activities empower the children to learn to read.
 
Writing
 
Process writing is shared, modeled, interactive and independent. In shared writing, children explore writing concepts and mechanics with the help of an adult model and “scribe”. Correct writing techniques and skills are explicitly modeled throughout the day. Children are invited into ongoing dialogue about the process. Quality literature is used to demonstrate writing techniques and concepts in context. Children are also encouraged to interact in the process, joining the teacher or writing along on their own. Children are moved through the natural stages of writing development, progressing from picture and symbol writing through the use of letters with phonetic correspondence towards the goal of conventional spelling. Independent writing focuses on subjects directly related to the curriculum, including science and social studies. Children write stories, respond to literature, and keep a writing portfolio throughout the school year.
 
Numbers/Arithmetic
 
Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics (Standards Edition) is a comprehensive, activity based program that uses the pedagogical principles of the Singapore Math approach to help kindergarten students build a strong foundation in mathematics through fun-filled lessons and activities. Hands-on tasks and meaningful activities rich in mathematical content, engage students’ active participation in the learning process. The topics covered help to provide students with basic mathematical facts and concepts, and provide a sound foundation for using Singapore Math strategies in later years.
 
The Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract approach enables students to encounter math in a meaningful way through concrete activities before progressing to pictorial and abstract representations. This allows students to understand mathematical concepts before learning the “rules” or formulaic expressions: • Students first encounter the mathematical concepts through the use of manipulatives. • Students then move on to the pictorial stage in which pictures are used to model problems. • When students are familiar with the ideas taught, they progress to a more advanced or abstract stage in which only numbers, notation and symbols are used.
 
New mathematical concepts are introduced through a spiral progression that builds on concepts already taught and mastered. Structured activities help to consolidate the mathematical concepts taught. Spiral progression also allows for a review of important math concepts while expanding on that foundation.
 
Metacognition refers to the ability to monitor one’s own thought processes. In teaching students to be conscious of the strategies they use to accomplish a task, this strategy encourages students to think of alternative means of solving problems and promotes logical thinking.
 
Concepts introduced in the kindergarten program include: matching and sorting, numbers to 100, order, shapes, patterns, length and size, weight, capacity, comparing sets, comparing numbers, number bonds, addition, subtraction, time, and money.
 
Handwriting
 
Manuscript writing is taught in Kindergarten using a one-stroke method. The children learn to write each letter, both the lower case and the capital. Students use their writing skills in writing blends, words, and sentences.
 
Bible
 
Bible is taught in Kindergarten through the lives of the major Biblical characters starting at the beginning with creation and going through six key events in the Bible. Stories, visuals, activities, and role play help the children to comprehend and apply basic Bible truths. Weekly memory verses help the children to “hide the Word in their hearts” while sharpening memory skills.
 
Skills Development
 
Diverse activities are provided daily to develop the following skills: gross motor and fine motor coordination, visual perception, listening, thinking, and speaking skills. “Morning Meeting” each day, provides an opportunity for the children to learn about the calendar, seasons, and the weather and sing patriotic songs, Bible songs, and fun songs. The use of poetry and music reinforce current topics. Learning Centers provide students with integrated projects related to curriculum themes while stimulating creativity and developing fine motor skills: tracing, cutting, gluing, coloring, painting, and drawing. For example, while studying Native Americans, we might make model wetus, or in Science class, create beautiful paintings to illustrate the changes that take place in the spring.
 
Social Studies
 
The Social Studies curriculum integrates history, geography, and civics, while integrating a Biblical worldview. Student gain a foundational working knowledge of history by exploring their personal stories utilizing chronological order and time sequencing. Listening to childhood autobiographies by renowned authors inspires the students to appreciate and relate to their own childhood experiences. Students compare and contrast their stories with the stories of children in other parts of the world, as they begin to grasp differing points of view.
Civics principles such as citizenship, justice, and the necessity of rules (laws) are fleshed out in the context of the classroom community. Students learn and demonstrate the qualities of good citizenship: respect, responsibility, kindness, patience, truthfulness and forgiveness.
Students learn the names of the continents and oceans of the world and pinpoint their location on the globe. Ways in which geographic location impact everyday life such as types of homes, food, and recreation are explored. Kindergarten students recognize maps of their local towns and communities and utilize basic mapmaking skills. Activities such as role-playing, singing songs, games, artwork, crafts, and guest presentations enliven Social Studies units.
 
Science
 
In science class, the children learn about God’s creation. In physical science, children explore the concepts of light and shadows, color, states of matter (solids, liquids, and gases), water, bubbles, and magnetism. In earth science, children learn about the make up of our planet including land and oceans. In life science, children explore the life cycle of plants and animals, focusing on developing an understanding of living versus non-living things. Various science “experiences” stimulate greater understanding of the world we live in while integrating art, literature and writing activities. One of the kindergarten highlights is the annual field trip to the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, New Hampshire. Every other year, kindergarten students participate in CCA’S Science Fair during which they present culminating multisensory activities based on a major science topic.
 
Enrichment Classes
 
Physical Education
The Kindergarten physical education program provides an environment where each student receives a series of successful motor experiences. During a child’s foundational years, the ability to express himself or herself through movement contributes to the child’s sense of self and ongoing development. We endeavor to provide a variety of physical activities that promote success and fun, yet are designed so that each student sees himself or herself as a unique child of God. These activities fit into two major categories: the exploration and development of sensory attributes, and the exploration and development of fitness movements. Academic goals will include learning the rules to specific games and learning the names of the body’s muscles. Social and decisional goals will be developed through cooperative play.
 
Music
Students are engaged in a multi-faceted music curriculum that is based upon the premise that music is a gift from God, and that the study of music enables students to bring honor and glory to God in a unique way. Students in Kindergarten develop their singing voices through singing praise and folk music, as well as musical games. Students learn about basic beat and rhythm, as they sing, clap, play instruments, move, and dance with the music they make. Students are encouraged to explore the variety of musical sound by using many types of percussion instruments in conjunction with singing and movement activities. Students experience the art of music through active listening and by active participation in musical performances. “Hands-on” activities provide students the opportunity to develop creativity while learning key concepts in music theory.
 
Library
Students visit the library weekly and discover the wonderful books at their disposal. Over the course of the year, the library skills are introduced and reinforced through the incorporation of reading aloud, book discussions, scheduled library games and activities. Our primary goal is to pique and expand students' interest in reading for pleasure and for information, and to help them become comfortable using the library and all of its resources. Students are introduced to a variety of genres and authors, including both fiction and non-fiction. Students also learn the skills necessary for independent selection and evaluation of appropriate reading material. During their visits, students select and borrow books, learning how to care for them responsibly and return them on time.