The kindergarten mathematics program provides all students with a rich introductory experience in developmental mathematics. Building strong concepts related to number is an important focus in kindergarten. Hands-on, interactive approaches are used to develop number, measurement, and geometry concepts. Problem solving strategies are developed through activities that allow comparing, counting, and recognizing patterns.

Kindergarten students will be immersed in a print-rich environment to learn the concepts of print, basic phonetic principals, comprehension of stories, and letter identification skills through systematic, direct instruction, individual and small group activities, and time spent exploring and reading books and other print material. Students will also learn to identify and name the uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet, understand that letters represent sounds, and identify beginning consonant sounds in single consonant words. They will comprehend and relate stories through drama, retelling, drawing, and their own writing. Students will engage in a variety of oral language activities to develop their listening and speaking vocabularies and enhance their ability to communicate effectively. Students will communicate ideas through drawings, scribbles, letter strings, letter approximations, and dictation to adults. All aspects of literacy will be taught through a balanced literacy framework for instruction, enabling all students to become independent and strategic readers, writers, thinkers, and communicators.

The Kindergarten standards stress the use of basic science skills to explore common materials, objects, and living things and will begin the development of an understanding that scientific knowledge is based on evidence. Emphasis is placed on using the senses to gather information. Students are expected to develop skills in posing simple questions, measuring, sorting, classifying, and communicating information about the natural world. Science skills are focused on shadows, patterns of weather, plant growth, and life processes.

Students will explore history as it relates to events and people of other times and places. Students will identify traditional patriotic symbols of Virginia and America. Students will develop an appreciation of acts of patriotism and other admirable character traits of historical personalities. Students will learn the concepts of self-control, justice, courage, heroism, and leadership. Students will use maps, globes, and models to investigate how the needs of people in other lands compare and contrast to their own needs while exploring likenesses and differences in customs and traditions. Students will demonstrate what it means to be a good citizen and what is expected of them. Students will be exposed to basic economic concepts to include needs, wants, exchanging money, and saving for the future.