Matteson School District 162

PreK – 3rd Grade

Curriculum Guide

December 2006

Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, Superintendent

Early Childhood

Young children learn through active exploration of their environments in child-initiated and teacher-selected activities. Early childhood educators recognize that children’s play is a highly supportive context for development and learning. The early childhood environment should provide opportunities for children to explore materials, engage in activities, and interact with peers and adults to construct their own understanding of the world around them. There should, therefore, be a balance of child-initiated and teacher-initiated activities to maximize learning.

Pre-Reading/Language Arts – Preschool students will begin to focus on verbal skills that relate to communication in many forms. They will use information to listen and speak effectively.

Skill areas:

1. Understanding that pictures and symbols have meaning and that print carries a message.
2. Understanding that reading progresses from left to right and top to bottom.
3. Identify labels and signs in the environment
4. Identify some letters, including those in own name.
5. Make some letter sound matches.
6. Predict what will happen next using pictures and content for guides.
7. Recognize separable and repeating sounds in spoken language.
8. Respond to simple questions about reading material.
9. Demonstrate understanding of literal meaning of stories by making comments.
10. Understand that different text forms, such as magazines, notes, lists, letters and storybooks, are used for different purposes.
11. Show independent interest in reading related activities.
12. Use scribbles, approximations of letters, or known letters to represent written language.
13. Dictate stories and experiences.
14. Use drawing skills to convey meaning and information.
15. Listen with understanding and respond to directions and conversations.
16. Communicate needs, ideas and thoughts.
17. Seek answers to questions through active exploration.
18. Relate prior knowledge to new information.
19. Communicate information with others.

Mathematics – Early childhood students will demonstrate and apply knowledge of numbers, shapes, patterns and other mathematical operations. They will develop mathematical vocabulary and lay the groundwork for future experiences.

Skill areas:

1. Use concepts that include number recognition, counting and one-to-one correspondence.
2. Explore quantity and number.
3. Connect numbers to quantities they represent using physical models and representations.
4. Make comparisons of quantities.
5. Demonstrate a beginning understanding of measurement using non-standard units and measurement words.
6. Construct a sense of time through participation in daily activities.
7. Show understanding of and use comparative words.
8. Sort and classify objects by a variety of properties.
9. Recognize, duplicate and extend simple patterns such as sequences of sounds, shapes and colors.
10. Begin to order objects in series or rows.
11. Describe qualitative change, such as measuring to see who is growing taller.
12. Recognize geometric shapes and structures in the environment.
13. Find and name locations with simple words such as “near”.
14. Represent data using concrete objects, pictures and graphs.
15. Make predictions about what will happen next.
16. Gather data about themselves and their surroundings.

Science – The preschool students will be introduced to the scientific inquiry and be challenged to investigate, question and solve problems. They will use real experiences such as playing in the mud, holding an animal, jumping into leaves and playing with rocks as part of their exploration.

Skill areas:

1. Uses senses to explore and observe materials and natural phenomena.
2. Explore scientific tools such as balance scales and magnifying glasses for investigation.
3. Become familiar with the use of devices incorporating technology.
4. Investigate and categorize living things in the environment.
5. Show an awareness of changes that occur in themselves and their environment.
6. Describe and compare basic needs of living things.
7. Make comparisons among objects that have been observed.
8. Use common weather-related vocabulary.
9. Participate in recycling in their environment.
10. Identify basic concepts associated with night/day and seasons.
11. Begin to understand basic safety practices.
12. Express wonder and ask questions about their world.

Social Science – Preschool students recognize and develop an understanding of the world around themselves and their roles within the society.

Skill areas:

1. Recognize the reason for rules.
2. Develop an awareness of roles of leaders in their environment.
3. Identify community workers and the services they provide.
4. Explore the use of money.
5. Recall information about the immediate past.
6. Locate objects and places in familiar environments.
7. Express beginning geographic thinking.
8. Recognize similarities and differences in people.
9. Understand that each of us belongs to a family and recognize that families vary.

Physical Development and Health – Preschool students participate daily in gross motor activities. Learning activities are designed for the student success and allow for creativity and self-discovery.

Skill areas:

1. Engage in active play using gross motor skills.
2. Engage in active play using fine motor skills.
3. Coordinate movements to perform complex tasks.
4. Follow simple safety rules while participating in activities.
5. Participate in developmental activities related to physical fitness.
6. Follow rules and procedures when participating in group physical activities.
7. Demonstrate ability to cooperate with others during group physical activities.
8. Participate in simple practices that promote healthy living and prevent illness.
9. Identify body parts and their functions.
10. At independently in caring for personal hygiene needs.
11. Use appropriate communication skills when expressing needs, wants and feelings.
12. Use socially acceptable ways to resolve conflict.
13. Participate in activities to learn to avoid dangerous situations.

Fine Arts – Preschool is a time for exploration as well as for an awareness of the terms used in those areas. The students will become familiar with the basic shapes, visual identification and fine motor activities.

Skill areas:

1. Dance: Investigate the elements of dance.
2. Drama: Investigate the elements of drama.
3. Music: Investigate the elements of music.
4. Visual Arts: Investigate the elements of visual arts.
5. Describe or respond to their own creative work or the creative work of others.
6. Dance: Participate in dance activities.
7. Drama: Participate in drama activities.
8. Music: Participate in music activities.
9. Visual Arts: Participate in visual arts activities.
10. Use creative arts as an avenue for self-expression.

Social/Emotional Development – Preschool students will develop social competence in three main areas; initiating interactions, maintaining ongoing relationships and solving conflicts.

Skill areas:

1. Describe self by using several basic characteristics.
2. Exhibit eagerness and curiosity as a learner.
3. Exhibit persistence and creativity in seeking solutions to problems.
4. Show some initiative and independence in actions.
5. Use appropriate communication skills when expressing needs, wants and feelings.
6. Begin to understand and follow rules
7. Manage transitions and begin to adapt to change routines.
8. Show empathy and caring for others.
9. Use the classroom environment purposefully and respectfully.
10. Engage in cooperative group play.
11. Begin to share materials and experiences and take turns.
12. Respect the rights of self and others.
13. Develop relationships with children and adults.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten is a time to experience many new activities. The students find new ways to learn about their world. There are opportunities to create, to socialize, to encourage movement and to encounter new learning opportunities throughout the kindergarten year.

Reading – Kindergarten students are developing the building blocks needed to be a successful reader. They spend a great deal of time learning the letters and the sounds each letter makes. The children are also reading on a daily basis.

Skill areas:

1. Decoding strategies
2. Visual discrimination of letter forms.
3. The alphabet. (Identify capital and lower case letters)
4. Auditory discrimination of vowel and consonant sounds.
5. Sound/letter associations.
6. Vocabulary skills.
7. Words and word patterns.
8. Comprehension in reading. (Retelling information from a story)
9. Word analysis.
10. Written material representing various societies, eras and ideas.
11. Comprehension of a variety of written materials.
12. Follow oral directions sequentially.
13. Literary elements and techniques.
14. Rhyming pairs
15. Read one syllable and high frequency words.

Language Arts – Language Arts at the kindergarten level involves many forms of communication. Students practice writing, thinking and speaking. Teachers help children develop the skills and understanding required to read and write gradually moving to whole words and sentences.

Skill areas:

1. Letter forms and letter names.
2. Rules of capitalization.
3. Correct usage of parts of speech.
4. Complete sentence structure.
5. Listening behavior and comprehension.
6. Correct grammar and punctuation.
7. Communicate ideas verbally and in writing.
8. Critical thinking skills.
9. Expresses ideas and needs in complete sentences.
10. Signs and labels in the environment.
11. Spelling skills. (Phonemic segmentation)
12. Concepts and principles of phonics. (Phonemic awareness)
13. Handwriting techniques.
14. Locate, organize and apply information.
15. Begin to write simple sentences.

Computers – Computer literacy is an integrated discipline because computer technology will continue to have an impact on many disciplines and vocations. Since computers and related technologies are available for school use, they will be integrated into the curriculum in an orderly manner.

Skill areas:

1. Basic components of a computer system.
2. Keyboards and input devices.
3. Keyboarding skills.
4. Procedures for using designated software.

Mathematics – Kindergarten students spend many hours working with manipulatives to gain a better understanding of number concepts. The children also use activity sheets and other resources which help them learn about mathematics application to their daily life.

Skill areas:

1. Whole numbers and numeration skills.
2. Addition skills to sums of 10.
3. Subtraction skills with differences up to 8.
4. Number sentences using pictures.
5. Problem solving strategies through using manipulatives.
6. Calendar days, months and years.
7. Tell time to the hour.
8. Formulate questions
9. Probability
10. Value of coins using pennies, nickels and dimes up to the value of a dime.
11. The terms shorter/taller, longer/shorter or the same length.
12. Like objects. (compare same and different)
13. Collect, organize and analyze data.
14. Measurement using non-standard and standard units.
15. Comparing the weight of objects using heavier and lighter.
16. Volume using the terms more and less.
17. Greater than and less than.
18. Sort by color, shape and size.
19. Compute and estimate.
20. Communicate findings. (Extended response)
21. Solid figures such as the cylinder, cube, sphere, cone pyramid and rectangular solid.
22. Plane figures such as square, triangle, circle, rectangle, diamond and oval.
23. Fractional parts showing one-half or a whole.
24. Simple table and bar graphs.
25. Complete number sentences with the correct sign.
26. Basic algebraic concepts.
27. Calculator use.
28. Mental math.
29. Solving problems using comparison.
30. Patterns.
31. Count objects using one to one correspondence.
32. Sequencing numbers.

Social Studies – The emphasis of study in kindergarten is on one’s self. The learner becomes aware of the relationship with the family members, people in the school and community and identifies himself/herself as a member of these groups. The learner is oriented to the concept that maps and globes represent the world in which we live.

Skill areas:

1. Surroundings as they relate to home, community, school and the world.
2. Appropriate and responsible behavior with respect to school, staff and classmates.
3. A positive self image by learning to accept himself/herself and others.
4. The roles of family members.
5. Personal heritage.
6. The importance of friendships.
7. Worldwide traditions, customs and celebrations.
8. Promote responsibility
9. Responsible decision making required of citizens, workers and consumers.
10. Our free country, the United States of America.
11. The current U.S. President.
12. Symbols of America including the flag.
13. Maps and globes.
14. The town and state in which he/she resides.
15. The seasons, months and days.
16. Events, trends and individuals throughout history.
17. U.S. government.
18. The sequence of events in personal life and school community.
19. A variety of modes of transportation and communication.
20. Current events which are appropriate to this developmental level.
21. The difference between wants and needs.
22. The voting process.
23. Participate in culturally diverse activities.
24. Awareness of economics.
25. Exchange of goods and services.
26. Name, address, phone number and birthdate.

Science – The kindergarten science program encourages children to explore and build understanding in six broad areas: Living things; Weather; Matter; Sense; The Earth, Sun and Moon; and Magnets.

Skill areas:

1. Objects vary in color, size and shape.
2. Seeds need water, sunlight and soil to grow.
3. Animals can be classified by their coverings.
4. Baby animals grow up to resemble their parents.
5. Stages before reaching adulthood.
6. Plants and animals on earth.
7. Objects differ in mass.
8. A push or pull changes the motion of things.
9. Heat can change a solid to a liquid; cold can change a liquid to a solid.
10. Conservation of our environment.
11. What will happen next when given a situation.
12. Landforms and bodies of water.
13. Weather and weather conditions can vary from day to day, and season to season.
14. Graph daily weather conditions.
15. Clothing needs to change as the weather changes.
16. Habitats
17. Use scientific technology.
18. Seasonal changes affect plants and animals.
19. Sun, Earth and Moon.
20. Magnets attract other magnetic materials.
21. Graphing activities, comparing objects and identifying objects.
22. Scientists and inventors.
23. Matter and energy.
24. Principals of force and motion.
25. The earth and its resources.
26. Earth’s place.

Art – Kindergarten is a time for exploration as well as defining specific art terms. The student will become familiar with basic shapes, colors, textures and feelings. Basic motor skills grow and develop while participating in many projects throughout the year.

Skill areas:

1. Art work can evoke feelings.
2. The five senses.
3. Line, shape, color and texture.
4. Rhythm.
5. Fat, thin, short and tall lines.
6. Similarities and differences.
7. Quality of art work.
8. Different mediums.
9. Expression of ideas and feelings.
10. Techniques and materials.
11. Glue effectively.
12. History and culture.
13. Safety aspects of art.
14. Aesthetic values through analysis and criticism of art.
15. Create an art work from a Western or non-Western culture.

Music – In music class, kindergarten students are introduced to new terminology and different ways to listen and respond to music.

Skill areas:

1. Melody
2. Rhythm
3. Form
4. Qualities of music.
5. Processes and tools required to produce music.
6. Creation and/or performance of music.
7. Tone color
8. Diversity
9. Dynamics
10. Music Vocabulary.
11. Listening as aural perception.

Physical Education – Kindergarten students participate daily in physical activities. Learning activities are designed to be success oriented and allow for creativity and self-discovery. Students are also introduced to sports terminology, rules, safety guidelines and the use of equipment.

Skill areas:

1. Basic exercise.
2. Basic flexibility and range of motion.
3. Minimum cardio respiratory endurance.
4. Minimum arm, shoulder and abdominal strength.
5. Leg strength, endurance, power and agility.
6. Bounce a ball using various methods.
7. Teamwork.
8. Throw an object in an underhand and overhand position.
9. Strike an object using various methods.
10. Emergency procedures and safe living conditions.
11. Basic components needed to complete an aerobic workout.
12. Coordination.
13. Follow safety rules.
14. Follow rhythmic directions.
15. Balance.
16. Basic loco motor and non-loco motor skills, individually and in combination.
17. Muscles and their functions.
18. Healthy foods.
19. Appropriate seasonal wear.
20. Physical fitness goals.

Health – Through active involvement, students will focus on several health and health-related topics. The students will investigate these topics through discussion, art and activities.

Skill areas:

1. Emergency procedures.
2. Rules and behaviors needed to avoid accidents.
3. Fire and tornado drill safety procedures.
4. Traffic signs and signals.
5. Potential dangerous objects.
6. Importance of a clean environment.
7. Health professionals
8. Role of self and family members.
9. Self as unique and worthwhile.
10. Qualities in a friend.
11. Food determines the nutritive balance vital to effective functioning of the body.
12. Physical development and functions of the human body.
13. Consumer health and safety, including environmental health.
14. Dental health.
15. Proper hygienic habits as they relate to good grooming and body care.
16. Responsibility for one’s own health.
17. Consult an adult after finding an unknown substance.
18. Placement of medicines and other dangerous materials.
19. Physical exercise.
20. Internal and external body parts.
21. Basic food groups.
22. Ways to keep clean.
23. Health helpers.
24. Illness prevention.
25. Communication skills.
26. Positive decision making.

Social/Emotional Development

Skill areas:

1. Identify and manage emotional behavior.
2. Recognize personal qualities (strengths and weaknesses) and external supports.
3. Set personal and academic goals.
4. Recognize the feelings and perspectives of others.
5. Recognize individual and group similarities and differences.
6. Use communication and social skills to interact effectively with others.
7. Demonstrate interpersonal problem solving skills.
8. Consider ethical, safety and societal factors in making decisions.
9. Make positive, responsible choices academically and socially.
10. Contribute to the well being of one’s school and community.

First Grade

A major goal for first grade students is to work independently and in small groups. The first grade child is also becoming more organized, completing daily work, learning in new ways and respecting the rights and properties of others.

Reading – Shared reading experiences are an important part of first grade. Students are involved in reading and talking about stories. They will participate in small groups and independently as they read predictable stories.

Skill areas:

1. Decoding strategies
2. Visual discrimination of letter forms.
3. Know the alphabet.
4. Sound/letter associations.
5. Basic sight vocabulary skills.
6. Comprehension in reading.
7. Meaning from printed material
8. Test-taking strategies
9. Reference Skills
10. Fluency Drills
11. Information in the appropriate source and manner.
12. Graphic aid knowledge
13. Oral reports
14. Read or recite poetry
15. Journal sharing
16. Discussions
17. Genres and their elements.
18. Literary elements and techniques.

Language Arts – First graders extend their independent writing skills to complete longer texts that occasionally go through one or two revisions. The students will also share their written work with others.

Skill areas:

1. Using correct punctuation.
2. Correct usage of parts of speech.
3. Writing exercises for a variety of purposes/audiences.
4. Daily oral language sentences. (Morning Meeting)
5. Handwriting.
6. Written material representing various societies, eras and ideas. (Reading and writing in Social Studies)
7. Critical thinking skills.
8. Listening manners for specific purposes.
9. Speaking techniques. (Proper grammar/ complete sentences)
10. Spelling skills.
11. Following oral directions.
12. Locate, organize and apply information.
13. Word analysis skills (phonics/ word patterns) to recognize new words.
14. Visually oriented and auditory-based media.

Computers – Computer literacy is an integrated discipline because computer technology will continue to have an impact on many disciplines and vocations. Since computers and related technologies are available for school use, they will be integrated into the curriculum in an orderly manner.

Skill areas:

1. Basic components of a computer system.
2. Keyboards and input devices.
3. Keyboarding skills.
4. Procedures for using designated software.
5. The effect of technology on every day life.

Mathematics – Mathematics in first grade is activity based. Children use manipulatives to explore numbers and the operations of addition and subtraction.

Skill areas:

1. Whole numbers
2. Add and subtract whole numbers up to 2 digit numbers without regrouping.
3. Doubles.
4. Estimation.
5. Problem solving strategies.
6. Number sentences.
7. Compare numbers of objects in groups.
8. Word problems through application of problem solving strategies.
9. Time to the hour, half hour, and quarter hour.
10. A calendar.
11. Money. (Penny, Nickel, Dime, Quarter and Dollar)
12. Measurement.
13. Basic algebraic concepts.
14. Geometric shapes and space figures including 3-D.
15. Fractions. (1/2, 1/3 and ¼)
16. The calculator as a tool.
17. The computer as a tool.
18. Symmetry.
19. Data using pictures, tallies, tables, charts and graphs.
20. Place value with 2 and 3 digit numbers.

Social Studies – In first grade, the emphasis is on community and how each person has a role within the community. A focus on the importance of family, school, and neighborhood helps the student to understand that decisions often affect more than one person. The students will begin to understand the information that can be found using a map and globe.

Skill areas:

1. Locate Illinois on a map of the United States.
2. Maps and Globes.
3. Map of the classroom.
4. Location of the North and South poles.
5. Families interact and have responsibilities.
6. Heroes of community and state.
7. Similarities and differences of other people in the world.
8. Basic needs and wants.
9. Why people work.
10. Importance of responsible decision-making as citizens, workers and consumers.
11. Community workers.
12. Current events.
13. United States democracy.
14. Important people from America’s past.
15. The voting process.
16. Explain a symbol of America.
17. Significance of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Science/Health – First grade science is a time for discovery. The students will investigate living things, experience how objects move, matter, magnets, weather and climate. Students will be involved with hands-on activities, observations and discussion about many topics.

Skill areas:

1. Living and non-living things.
2. Five senses.
3. Observations.
4. Examples of motion.
5. The earth.
6. Sources of energy.
7. Measurement.
8. Seasonal Changes.
9. Responsibility for one’s own good health.
10. Conclusions based on data.
11. Safety Procedures
12. School Nurse, a dentist and a doctor promote good health.
13. Feelings and self-esteem.
14. Food helps bodies grow and become strong.
15. Consumer health and safety.
16. Say “no” when confronted about drugs and/or bad situations.
17. Differentiate between positive and negative behaviors.
18. Importance of daily physical exercise.
19. Muscles and their functions.
20. Ways to keep clean.
21. Basic food groups.
22. Physical development and bodily functions.
23. Emergency procedures and life saving activities.

Art – First grade students participate in many art activities. They learn about the five elements of art: line, shape, color, texture and space. The principles and skills of art will also be emphasized.

Skill areas:

1. Texture, space, materials and mood.
2. Equipment safety procedures, techniques and materials.
3. Create a variety of artwork.
4. Lines and techniques in the creation of visual arts.
5. Aesthetic values through analysis and criticism of art.
6. Create an artwork from Western and non-Western culture.
7. History and culture.
8. Safety aspects.

Music – In music class, first grade students interact with music in many ways. Students participate by singing, playing and listening to many different types of music.

Skill areas:

1. Parts of a composition.
2. Musical notes.
3. Music Vocabulary.
4. Skills needed for singing and playing music.
5. Listening as aural perception.
6. Styles and country of origin from musical examples.
7. Characteristics of music.
8. Melody, rhythm, tone color, dynamics and form.
9. Musical parts as same or different.
10. Loco motor movements are used in conjunction with musical examples.

Physical Education – Learning activities are designed to be success oriented and allow for creativity and self-discovery. Students learn to control their physical activities through experience and practice. Students begin to develop an understanding of the positive effects of physical education.

Skill areas:

1. Components of physical fitness.
2. Flexibility and range of motion.
3. Cardio respiratory endurance.
4. Arm, shoulder and abdominal strength.