Jr. Kindergarten Curriculum

RELIGION

The students will work with the following:

The Religion curriculum focuses on the core of the week's Gospel message, God's Word, and applies it to the children's life at their level of understanding through formal religion lessons that include the following activities; praying, singing, listening to and discussing stories, and using hands-on experiences.

Throughout the day the children recognize that each and every one of them is special and has given many talents.  They realize that they belong to God's Family and God loves them.  Therefore, they must show God's Love to others.

LANGUAGE ARTS

The Language Arts curriculum focuses on creating an interest in literature, with an emphasis on reading readiness.

The students will learn to do the following:

• track from top to bottom and left to right
• recognize the upper and lower case letters of the alphabet in and out of sequence
• become familiar with letter/sound correspondence
• listen to a story, predict the outcome, sequence the events, name the characters, and re-tell the story
• speak in complete sentences
• follow 1-3 step directions
• verbalize happenings and feelings
• repeat poems and chants
• understand the meaning of concept words
• illustrate a story or event
• recognize and print their own first names
• trace letters, circles, curved lines and straight lines

MATHEMATICS

The use of concrete materials or manipulatives allows the children to use all of their senses.  this helps the children develop their basic math skills at the concrete level, therefore enhancing their transition to the abstract level.

The sequence of skills is as follows:

• free exploration
• recognize and extend patterns
• recognize and write numerals (0-12)
• sort and classify objects by size, color, shape, and type
• count from 0 to 31
• count backwards from 20 to 0
• compare objects by shape, size, color, and number
• understand one to one correspondence
• recognize basic shapes

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The physical education curriculum is designed to accommodate the development of a 4 year old child and focuses on those areas which help to enhance physical coordination and social interaction.  The physical education program concentrates on both the development of gross and fine motor skills.

The students will learn to do the following:

• bounce, catch, and throw a ball
• respond to rhythms with body movements
• walk on a balance beam
• walk, gallop, run, tiptoe, jump, skip and hop
• hold and use a pencil, crayons, paint brushes, and scissors correctly
• fold and crease paper
• string beads
• snap, button, and zip clothing
• lace a sequence of holes
• pour liquids and solids

SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, ART & MUSIC

Science, social studies, art and music are integrated across the curriculum.  Academic skills, seasons, and holidays provide the themes for the lessons.

The students will study the following:

Science

• seasons
• senses
• nutrition
• dental health
• plant life
• farm life

Social Studies

• self-awareness
• Christopher Columbus
• Pilgrims and Native Americans
• Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Presidents Abraham Lincoln & George Washington
• multi-cultural celebrations
• public safety information
• environmental awareness

Art

• individual artistic exploration
• seasonal art
• basic elements of art
• painting
• crafts

Music

• singing
• chanting
• dancing
• rhythm
• exploring with rhythms