Kindergarten
Curriculum
Social Skills
Through classroom routines and example, children are encouraged to develop and
demonstrate consideration for others. Turn-taking, sharing, and communicating
appropriately are all emphasised. Children are also encouraged to express their
feelings and to be assertive when resolving personal concerns. Respect for others
and oneself are emphasised.
Language Skills
Students are taught to read using a systematic phonics approach. Students read
individually with the teacher each day and a record book is sent home for the
purpose of informing parents about their child’s progress. Group and individual
activities are conducted in a way that encourages the development of better vocabularies
and speech skills.
In order to develop the children’s appreciation of written language and
books, they are regularly read stories and poetry, often based on a topic or
theme already being investigated. Such readings encourage discussion and imagination,
as well as increased understanding of our language and what we can do with it.
The classroom library is always accessible, and offers new and different titles
regularly. These books stretch children’s imaginations, and present important
issues and ideas. The collection presents stories representing various cultures,
times, and places.
Once children are able to print, they are given journals in which they can express
their ideas in writing.
The children are encouraged to develop skill and confidence in speaking. Teachers
offer routine opportunities (e.g. show & tell, group discussions) for each
child to speak in front of a group.
Number Skills
Through hands-on group and individual activities and the use of manipulatives,
children learn to count, to identify the number symbols, and to understand quantity.
Once this is mastered, they move on to simple addition and then subtraction problems.
More abstract concepts such as time, graphing and measurement are also taught.
Generally, Junior Kindergartners and Senior Kindergartners work on grade one
and two level math respectively.
Art
Children are encouraged to express their ideas and imagination through various
media/materials. Art activities promote visual perception skills and recognition
of differences in shape, colour, and texture. In addition, they introduce, to
the students, the basic techniques and media which form the foundation of the
art program in the primary grades.
Science
The children learn about a variety of topics, including field, forest, pond and
stream ecosystems and the plants and animals that thrive in each; the seasons;
weather and the water cycle; and our solar system.
History
Children study the fascinating world of dinosaurs and learn about prehistoric
people through stories, hands-on and dramatic activities, and crafts.
Social Studies / Geography
Through stories and books, models, photographs and hand-outs, children explore
concepts related to their community, and contrast this to other communities and
places. Children learn about diverse cultures and different ways of life.
Problem-Solving
Children’s logical and problem-solving abilities are developed through puzzles,
group discussions, games, and activities, and hand-out problems involving patterns,
numbers and spatial skills.
French
Kindergarten students develop a basic French vocabulary through songs and oral
activities based on a number of units which may include “Me voilà” (About
me), “Fruits et légumes” (Fruits and vegetables), “Mes
jouets” (My toys), “En hiver” (Winter), “Chez moi” (At
my home), “Au printemps” (Spring), “Nos amis les animaux” (Our
friends the animals), and “En route!”(On our way).
Music
Kindergarten students work with the basics of musical structure - pitch, tempo,
rhythm, melody, etc. - through rhythm instruments, musical tapes, stories and
games, and songs, in order to develop a foundation for later study of theoretical
concepts.
Physical Education
Children participate in games and activities which improve their coordination,
balance, dexterity and control, while developing the skills which will prepare
them for physical games and sports, e.g. kicking, catching and throwing a ball,
running and jumping, and learning to follow rules in a simple game.
Computers
Each child enjoys scheduled, individual computer time on the classroom Macintosh
computer. By controlling the mouse, the children access a world of colour, games,
puzzles, and letters & numbers, from a number of excellent programs/CDs.
|
|
|
|
