• English Language Arts and Literacy: K-5

    The North Salem Central School District curricula are based on the current New York State Next Generation Learning Standards.

    Under construction.

     

    Kindergarten Curriculum Overview

     

    Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening

    • Under construction

    Mathematics

    Pequenakonck Elementary School has adopted the hands-on and minds-on K-5 Math Curriculum, enVisionmath2.0, as the instructional resource to use within our math workshop model. Students explore grade level concepts with engaging materials, manipulatives, videos, online access and interdisciplinary activities that support student learning. The program is organized to promote focus and coherence each day. Assessments provide meaningful feedback to support student learning. The comprehensive program focuses on Common Core Clusters, develops understanding, and most importantly, connects mathematical content and processes. Learning is also supported through small group and collaborative activities.  The four major domains include: Counting and Cardinality, Operations and Algebraic Thinking, Numbers and Operations in Base Ten, Measurement and Data, and Geometry.

    Mathematical Practices:

    • Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them 
    • Reason abstractly and quantitatively
    • Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others
    • Model with mathematics
    • Use appropriate tools strategically (including ten frames, rekenreks, and bead strings)
    • Attend to precision
    • Look for and make use of structure
    • Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

     

    Some of what your kindergartner will be learning includes:

    • Counting to 100 from any given number
    • Understanding the relationship between numbers and quantity
    • Fluently adding and subtracting within 5
    • Composing and decomposing within 19 to show tens and ones
    • Solving addition and subtraction word problems, and adding and subtracting within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem
    • Representing and interpreting data
    • Analyzing and comparing two and three dimensional shapes

    Social Studies

    We use BOCES as our instructional resource for teaching social studies.  "Getting to Know Myself and Others" is an integrated Kindergarten Social Studies/English Language Arts curriculum developed by Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES Curriculum Council and the BOCES Curriculum staff. The National Social Studies Themes, Social Studies Key Ideas and Content Understandings, and the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies were used as a framework for unit development.  Kindergartners learn about the following topics:

    • Myself and Others: Students learn that each person is unique and different.  Students recognize that families can be similar and different.
    • How Can I Be a Good Citizen?: Students learn to show respect and kindness. Students learn what it looks like to be a good citizen in their classrooms and school.
    • Understanding Needs and Wants: Students learn the differences between wants and needs.  Students understand that they need others to fulfill their needs and wants.

    Science

    We use Science 21 as our instructional resource for teaching science. The science program is an inquiry based program.  Kindergartners use critical and creative thinking skills as well as problem solving skills to learn about the following topics of study: 

    • Exploring the Weather: Students use their senses and observations to make predictions about the weather.  Students will use tools of meteorologists to explore temperature and describe weather patterns.
    • Exploring Forces and Motion: Students investigate how forces, or pushes and pulls, are needed to move object.  Students use models to observe objects in motion and the relationship among forces, strength, and direction.
    • Animals, Plants and their Environment: Students use observations to describe what living things need to survive.  Students understand how living things can change their environment to meet their needs.

    Health

    Our health program, The Great Body Shop, promotes behaviors to better health.  Students study topics at every level. All students study growth and development, nutrition, safety, illness prevention, substance abuse prevention, personal safety, family life, and community health.

    Kindergartners will study the following topics:

    • How to Stay Safe
    • The Five Senses
    • Adventure in Food
    • The Family Team
    • My Body is Special
    • Going to the Doctor and Dentist
    • No Drugs, No Way!
    • Getting Sick
    • Keeping Clean and Healthy
    • Every Day Play