Kdg Curriculum

Religion

Students have optimal opportunity to grow in their faith and in their relationship with God.  The concepts presented are God, God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), God the Holy Spirit, the Bible, heaven, angels, sin, law & gospel, worship, prayer & thanksgiving, witnessing, and stewardship.  Children hear Bible stories from the Old & New Testament, learn to say memorized & personal prayers, and sing Christian songs.  They learn that God knows them, forgives their sins, and loves them dearly.

Reading/Language Arts

This program helps students develop a variety of strategies and skills that will allow them to become independent, competent, and confident readers.  Instruction is given in phonics and phonemic awareness that is meaningful and integrated with classroom themes.  The children are exposed to a print rich kindergarten environment.  Reading/Language Arts concepts consist of rhyming, alphabet & alphabet sound recognition, decoding words, inventive spelling, high frequency words, word opposites, syllabication, sequencing, journaling, and increased vocabulary development.

Handwriting

Good writing habits are introduced at this level.  Children are instructed in correct formation of upper and lower case manuscript alphabet letters and numerals.

Mathematics

Our math program helps students develop higher-order thinking, to become fluent in math vocabulary, to form problem solving strategies, and to build true concepts of what mathematics is and what it means to “do” math.  Math concepts presented are sorting, classifying, geometry, patterns, positions, estimation, numbers 1-100, money, tables, graphs, fractions, addition & subtraction, time, and measurement.

Social Studies

Kindergartners become more familiar with God’s world as they study geography, map skills, government, citizenship, economics, history, society, and culture.  Learning is made meaningful through such topics as family & neighbors, transportation, community helpers, holidays, and customs & traditions.

Science

Children learn that the world and everything in it was created by God.  Kindergartners use science process skills and the methods of science through hands-on activities.  Many concepts are introduced such as weather, the four seasons, external & internal body parts, pushes & pulls, the five senses, animals & life cycles, plants, and seeds.

Art

Children express themselves creatively through various art medias: watercolor paints, tempera paints, finger paints, charcoal, pastels, sculptures, collages, clay; and childhood favorites: crayons & markers

Physical Education

Students learn that they are “wonderfully” made by God, and that God wants them to take care of their bodies.  Children participate in many age appropriate games and activities that promote good health and a positive attitude toward exercise.

Music

Music at this level is especially fun. The students sing, play percussion and handbells, learn the role of different notes, including whole notes, half notes, qurter notes, and eighth notes. Students may even explore imaginary adventures and listen for sounds in nature made by percussion instruments and rain sticks.

Textbooks and Other Sources:

Faith Alive                                                             Concordia Publishing

Invitations for Literacy                                          Houghton Mifflin

Progress in Mathematics                                      Sadlier-Oxford

Friends & Neighbors                                             Houghton Mifflin

Discovery Works                                                 Houghton Mifflin Science

EPEC                                                                     Michigan Fitness Foundation

(Exemplary Physical Fitness Curriculum)

Field Trips

Harvest Time- Westview Orchard

Theatreworks-Macomb Center for the Performing Arts

Spring Farm Animals-Wolcott Farm