Kindergarten Academics

Parent Newsletter

What will my child learn?

English Language Arts

Standards

• Wisconsin English Language Arts Standards (Revised 2020)

Resources

• Curriculum Map 
• Scope and Sequence 

Kindergarten Units

Parent Resources for ELA

• RAZ Information for Families
  Your child has access to an award winning literacy resource. Click on this link to learn more about Raz Plus from Learning A-Z!
• Act 20 Resources & Family Activities

Math

Standards

• Wisconsin Math Standards (revised 2020)

Resources

• Scope and Sequence

Kindergarten Units

Parent Resources

• Math at Home – collection of activities, organized by mathematical content, uses familiar routines that can be used by students and families.
• Math Apps – free apps that are based on the visual models student use in Bridges in Mathematics

Social Studies

Standards

Wisconsin Social Studies Standards

Kindergarten Units

Science

Standards

• Wisconsin Science Standards

Kindergarten Units

Social Emotional Learning

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) helps children develop the skills they need to succeed in school and in life. These include:

• Understanding and managing emotions
• Making responsible decisions
• Showing empathy and kindness
• Building positive friendships
• Solving problems in peaceful ways

SEL supports the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally—helping students feel safe, confident, and ready to learn.

Elementary school is a time when children are learning how to navigate the world around them. As they grow, they begin to understand themselves, others, and how to work together. SEL helps students:

• Develop self-confidence and independence
• Learn how to handle big emotions
• Build friendships and resolve conflicts
• Follow directions and stay focused in class
• Create a strong sense of belonging at school

When students feel supported socially and emotionally, they are more engaged in learning and better prepared for future academic success.

KUSD uses the Second Step Elementary program, a trusted, research-based curriculum that teaches SEL skills in a developmentally appropriate and engaging way.  Second Step lessons are taught in the elementary classroom and focus on:

• Skills for Learning – Listening, focusing attention, and being assertive
• Empathy – Understanding and caring about others’ feelings
• Emotion Management – Recognizing strong emotions and calming down
• Problem-Solving – Using step-by-step strategies to make good choices

Lessons include stories, songs, discussions, games, and role-playing to help students practice their skills in fun and meaningful ways.

• Second Step
• CASEL
• WI DPI Social Emotional Learning

Physical Education

All K-5 students in the Kenosha Unified School District participate in physical education for 75 minutes per week.

Wisconsin Physical Education Standards

Music

All K-5 students in the Kenosha Unified School District participate in general music for 45 minutes per week. National Core Arts Standards

Kindergarten learning objectives for music:

Students will experience and interact with the following:

Emerging Rhythm Skills:

• Pulse/Steady Beat

Emerging Melodic Skills:

• Melodic direction (not pitch matching)
  • Pitch moving up or down (contour)
  • High and low
• Imitate vocal glissandi
• Echo simple melodic patterns using head voice.
• Sing simple songs in head voice.
• Speak simple chants.
• Spontaneously create an original tune using two or more notes

Emerging instrumental skills:

• Perform the pulse on classroom instruments (percussion).
• Use proper playing technique classroom instruments (percussion).
  • Depending on access:
    • Rhythm sticks
    • Shakers
    • Wood block
    • Hand drum
    • Body percussion

Emerging interaction with music

• Imitate creative movement with or without music.
• With guidance, identify the expressive intent of music.
• Experience various styles of music.

Grade Level Musical Elements

• Four voices
  • Singing
  • Speaking
  • Whisper
  • Shouting
• Loud and soft
• Slow and fast tempo

Art

All K-5 students in the Kenosha Unified School District participate in art for 45 minutes per week. National Core Arts Standards

Kindergarten learning objectives for visual art:

Elements and Principles of Art:

• Line:
  • Identifies and uses a variety of line qualities such as: Thick, Thin, Vertical, Horizontal, Diagonal, Zigzag, Curved, Straight, Broken.
• Shape: 
  • Identifies and uses six basic geometric shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, oval, rhombus).
• Color:
  • Identifies primary colors (red, yellow, blue).
• Pattern:
  • Decorates art with repeating elements.

Artistic Process:

• Experiments with new materials and processes (Including 2D and 3D materials).
• Explains how artists get their ideas.

Craftsmanship:

• Identifies good craftsmanship.

Responding:

• Explains what an art museum is and why it is important.
• Describes art with details.

Connecting:

• Explains how art is a form of communication.
• Describes what a picture represents.

Contact Information