List of 13 items.

• Design and Engineering

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  In Kindergarten, students are introduced to a wide range of concepts in design and engineering that aim to enhance their creativity and problem-solving skills. Students begin by building an “Odd Animal” from recycled materials, creating sketches and prototypes as part of the design thinking process. Fine motor skills are enhanced as they are taught how to use basic tools like scissors, glue, and even kid-safe needles and thread. Resiliency is developed as students are encouraged to identify multiple ways of solving problems. Many opportunities for reflection on what they’ve learned support the process. All of this is done to begin fostering a growth mindset.

• Language Arts

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  In kindergarten, language arts are integrated across the curriculum. Children engage in various activities such as imaginative and constructive play, songs and rhymes, thematic units and field trips, which give students opportunities to develop the social and language skills that formulate literacy development.
  
  Through active and engaging reading and writing experiences, systemized phonics, and word study in a print-rich environment, children begin to acquire the concepts, skills and confidence that will help them become more proficient readers, writers, speakers, and listeners. Teachers read aloud frequently, which is central to literacy development. The children are introduced to various genres including poetry, fiction, non-fiction, multicultural literature and stories from around the world. The goal is to instill a curiosity for and a love of language, while providing them with the key language arts elements that are a foundation for growth.

  
  Sources:
  Superkids Reading Program, Zaner-Bloser

  Scholastic Guided Reading Program
  

• Mathematics

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  Students are introduced to a variety of strategies to build on two critical areas: representing, relating, and operating on whole numbers and describing shapes and space. Through a variety of digital and hands-on manipulatives, interactive lessons, fun activities and math videos, students are exposed to an active math experience that includes numerous models of mathematical concepts and processes. Exploration and investigation are key aspects of the classroom atmosphere. Kindergarteners become aware that math is everywhere and therefore should be appreciated. Throughout kindergarten students become more assured in their own ability to apply math to solve problems.

  
  Sources:

  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Go Math!

• Social Studies

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  In social studies students discover and explore elements of their immediate world, which is made up of their family, school, and the community. Through cooperative learning and curiosity, students experience history and geography by linking the world today to the world of the past.
  
  The story of history is told through literature to expand their knowledge of environments from the familiar to the greater world. Students learn about community through discussions of effective decision-making and how people and communities learn to cooperate and work together. They learn that following rules, listening, sharing, taking turns, and assuming responsibility for themselves and others is all part of being a good citizen. Character development based on “actions not words” is emphasized through hands-on activities that teach students how to become positive and productive members of the Mayfield community.

• Science

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  Kindergarteners are natural scientists because they like to question, observe, communicate, and manipulate objects. In our science lab, children are encouraged to engage with science on a creative and exploratory level through hands-on activities.
  
  Units of Study
  
  Earth Science
  Sunlight, Heat and the Earth's Surface
  Solar System
  Water Cycle
  
  Physical Science
  Pushes & Pulls: Force Olympics
  States of Matter
  
  Life Science
  Animal Secrets
  Plat Secrets
  Turtle Life Cycle
  Five Senses
  Human Skeleton
  
  Sources:
  Mystery Science
  Generation Genius
  
  

• Religion

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  Kindergarten provides an introduction to the Catholic religion, using picture Bibles as the primary source for instruction. The teachings are founded upon important truths: God is our creator. He loves us. He helps us. He sent Jesus to save us. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us. Teachers use Bible stories to introduce themes, along with engaging videos, music, art projects and dramatic play, to present the Catholic faith in terms that young children can comprehend. They also provide many opportunities for prayer as students begin their faith journey at school. The children learn The Sign of the Cross, The Lord’s Prayer, and the Hail Mary.
  
  Through their production of the traditional Nativity Play at Christmas, students learn about the significance of the birth of Jesus Christ. The Noah’s Ark play in the spring teaches students the importance of God’s love in their lives and the value of following Him. Students in kindergarten also attend mass and prayer services with the whole school. Themes include:
  
  o The 7 Days of Creation
  o Moses in the Bulrushes
  o David and Goliath
  o Daniel and the Lion’s Den
  o Jonah and the Big Fish
  o Life of St. Patrick in conjunction with art class
  o Life of St. Valentine in conjunction with art class
  o The Birth and Life of Jesus
  o The Easter Story of Salvation

• Art

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  The kindergarten art experience introduces students to the core of the K-3 art program, Art History & Masters. Kindergarteners create an art piece in relation to the style of Seurat, Van Gogh, Picasso and Grandma Moses. Students learn how to paint with dots from Seurat, to paint sunflowers from Van Gogh, to collage from Picasso, and to combine paint, pastel, collage, and sponge paint from Grandma Moses.
  
  Students create Halloween collages of black cats and shapely scarecrows by cutting, gluing and tearing paper and sketch and use pastels/watercolors to create Christmas angels. They turn Spanish roof tiles into art pieces by painting their home on the front of the tile. Creative and fun art projects connect students with key elements in their kindergarten plays (e.g. Noah & Nativity) and bring field trips to life. Solar system resistance paintings enable students to visualize science. A highlight of the year for the students is engaging with nature by painting cherry blossoms outdoors.

• Drama: Playing Together

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  In kindergarten, students begin to understand the vocabulary of theatre (such as stage, audience, play). They begin to observe the world around them through the eyes of the actor, and use that information to begin to take on roles other than themselves. They may imitate animals, settings, and characters to learn more about their community, their family, and stories from literature and liturgy. Finally, Kindergartners tell stories in role, and perform short plays for a public audience.

• Music

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  In kindergarten, students gain an understanding of music fundamentals: melody, rhythm, tempo, meter, and dynamics. They learn about musical notation in symbols and demonstrate the musical concept of call-and-response. Students gain the confidence to sing alone, in duets, or with an ensemble in formal and informal settings.
  
  They are able to sing, perform, and move to the beat with body percussion with a variety of rhythmic patterns on percussive instruments. Kindergartners enhance their small and large motor skills through performance on percussive instruments. Students learn about composers and historical music eras and listen to different genres of music – nursery rhymes, folk songs, spirituals, seasonal pieces, and sacred music. Students acquire memorization techniques to perform songs by memory in their short plays, such as the Nativity Story and Noah’s Ark for the school community.

• Spanish

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  In this introduction to the Spanish experience, students are exposed to Spanish greetings, songs, games, common phrases, and foundational vocabulary several times a week as they ease into learning a new target language.

• Technology/Computer Science

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  Kindergartners are introduced to basic operations and concepts as they use their iPad for the first time in an academic setting. They learn about caring for their device, and explore creativity and digital art through programs such as Sketches School and Chatter Pix. The learning platform, Seesaw, serves as a digital portfolio where students are able to reflect and showcase their work to an authentic audience. They begin to explore a variety of educational apps and websites on their iPads that enhance their learning and build foundational skills in Language Arts and Math. 
  
  

  Students also begin to explore robotics through the Blue Bots - robots designed to teach directionality, and sequencing. They learn about basic programming concepts such as algorithms  and problem solving through hands-on activities integrated within the curriculum. 

• Physical Education

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  The Kindergarten Physical Education curriculum is based on establishing fundamental skills in many areas of gross and fine motor skills, cardiovascular fitness, flexibility, and muscle coordination.
  
  Students participate in cooperative games, light to moderate fitness, movement education, and themed activities. They develop spatial awareness and are introduced to basic physical changes that occur as a result of physical activity. In addition, students learn to follow directions and interact positively with classmates, regardless of personal differences, in a physical setting.

• Library

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  Kindergarteners are introduced to the skills and concepts they will need to be successful in the library. Students learn where the library is located, how it is organized, and whom they can ask for help. They learn to select library material based on need and current reading level, and how to check out and borrow library materials.
  
  Students listen and respond to stories based on well-known characters, themes, plots, and settings, retelling the central ideas of simple passages. They identify types of everyday print and digital materials such as storybooks, poems, periodicals, and signs. Students begin to distinguish fact from fiction. Kindergarteners learn that printed and digital materials provide information by identifying meaning from simple symbols and pictures. They begin to learn the basics of information literacy by asking and answering questions about text. With library guidance, students identify a personal interest and seek possible information sources to learn more about it.