Kindergarten Newsletter
Welcome to Kindergarten!
Curriculum February to April 2013 
Kindergarten Easter Egg Hunt, March 29th 1:30pm
Kindergarten skills are tested throughout the year but graded for mastery at specified 9-week periods. Please refer to the report cards for when a skill will be graded. Pine Ridge Mission Statement: The mission of the Harris County School District, the foundational rock upon which futures are built, is to ensure each student succeeds in life, through a system distinguished by: - students that advance through their own pace through nontraditional pathways
- student-driven, project-based learning
- teachers empowered to be creative facilitators
- the use of state of the art technology to become global learners
- authentic assessment aligned with real world experiences
- the use of our community as a support system
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Language Arts:
Literary and Informational (9 weeks) "Leader by Day, Superhero by Night" ;Students will continue to write in journals and practice using phonics to spell words. They will use informational resources (non-fiction books, internet, video) to gain facts to write about in journals, charts, & graphic organizers. The curriculum is integrated with science and social studies topics.
Persuasive Writing: Students are learning about what an opinion is and how to defend an opinion in writing. They will use resources to support an opinion to a reader/listener.
- How can we use interrogative words to ask questions about a topic?
- Why is it important to listen carefully to a story so I can respond in writing?
- How do I retell a story with the events in order?
- How do I know if a book is non-fiction?
- How can I identify words that rhyme?
- Why is it important to understand the correct order of steps when you follow directions?
- How can making predictions make you a stronger reader?
- How can I orally present information?
- How do I write about facts I have learned?
- How do I conduct research?
- Why is it important to understand the elements of a story (characters, plot, solution, setting, author, illustrator)?
- How can I work in small group and present information?
- How do I use letters and sounds to create words?
- How can I compare and contrast book characters?
- How can I compare and contrast two books?
- How can we use transition words to explain how to do something?
Math:
Investigating Addition and Subtraction (6 weeks) Students use numbers, including written numerals, to represent quantities and to solve quantitative problems. Objects, pictures, actions, and explanations are used to solve problems and represent thinking. Students will use mathematical vocabulary: join, add, separate, subtract, and, same amount as, equal, less, more, compose, decompose, sum, total, quantity, separate, & left.
- How can I compare one quantity to another?
- How can I find the total when I put two quantities together?
- How can I represent problem situations using pictures, objects, & numbers?
- How can I use models to represent addtion and subtraction?
- How can I use different combinations to represent the same quantity?
- What happens when I join quantities together>
- What happens when I decompose a quantity?
- What happens when sets are joined or separated?
- How can I find what is left over when I take a quantity away from another?
- Does the order of addens change the sum? Give examples.
- How do you know when your answer makes sense?
Science:
Living & Non-Living (6 weeks) Observe, describe, and classify objects by living and non-living criteria: Does it need water? Does it need air? Does it need shelter? Does it need food? Does it grow?
Animals (6 weeks) Recognize, classify, and identify similarities and differences in various animals according to their attributes (color, size, appearance, parent-offspring connection).
- How can living things be so alike and different?
- How can we compare animals?
- How is life continued?
- How are you alike and different from other students?
- What is a mammal?
Social Studies
Being a Good American (6 weeks) Students will discuss positive character traits of a good American citizen. They will listen to literature and describe how the characters exhibit traits of honesty, patriotism, loyalty, courtesy, respect, truth, pride, self-control, moderation, and accomplishment.
US Symbols (6 weeks) Students will discuss the symbols of the USA, as well as major patriotic holidays.
- How do we celebrate Memorial Day? Flag Day? Independence Day?
- When do we celebrate Memorial Day? Flag Day? Independence Day?
- How do we celebrate Memorial Day? Flag Day? Independence Day?
- What is the Statue of Liberty?
- What is "The Star Spangled Banner"?
- What is the Liberty Bell?
- What is the White House?
- What does the President of the United States do?
- What do the symbols on our country's flag stand for?
- How do choices demonstrate positive character traits?
Health and Safety
Kindergarten students recognize basic facts and concepts about their bodies and begin to acquire skills and practices that keep them safe and healthy. Students learn to seek help and advice from parents or guardians and other trusted adults and begin to learn how to seek reliable health information. They understand how to make good decisions about simple health issues, to respect others, to follow school safety rules, and to be responsible.
- How do I take care of my teeth?
- Why do I need to have good dental health habits?
- What are good choices for food to eat?
- How do I classify foods into groups?
- What is moderation?
- What does a dentist do?
