Kindergarten Classical Standards

Cathedral School of St. Mary

 

History

 

Knowledge

• Understand history and culture as a human desire for goodness, truth, and ultimately God

• Develop basic knowledge of ancient civilizations in ancient Near East and their relationship to one another (i.e., earning a living, shelter, clothing, food) K.6A-C

• Develop basic knowledge of history of Israel through the Bible and in context of ancient Near East

• Understand how technology changes the way people live K.13A-C

 

Skills

• Memorization of key historical facts

• Beginning map reading and recognition K.4A-C

• Use a globe K.4A-C

• Understand a timeline K.3A&B, K.14C

• Ability to narrate historical stories

• Begin to see connections between historical events and themes K.11A&B

• Beginning ability to formulate and discuss philosophical questions

• Artistically render historical scenes from imagination

 

Aptitudes

• Obtain information from and express ideas using a variety of sources (artifacts, art, maps, oral presentations, etc.) K.14A&B, K.15 A&B

• Develop memory

• Develop ability to listen and recall K.14A&B

• Develop an interest in history

• See relevance of past to present

• Begin to see an integrated conception of the world on which the beliefs of Western civilization are based

• Understand the purpose of rules and recognize authority figures K.8A&B, K.9A&B

• Use problem-solving and decision-making skills, including voting K.10D, K.16A&B

 

Religion

 

Knowledge

• Begin to recognize how Christianity becomes incarnate in culture through art, music, architecture, literature, and the liturgical calendar

• Appreciate the historical setting of the Bible

• Learn the traditions of the Church and the mysteries of the faith through beauty, beautiful liturgy, and adoration.

• Become acquainted with the tradition of sacred music as a form of prayer

• Acquire basic catechetical instruction in the meaning of the Incarnation, the Creeds of the Church, familiarity with the Old and New Testaments and the difference between them, the meaning of the Mass, the liturgical calendar, basic prayers and practices of the church, etc.

 

Skills

• Memorize and recite Scripture, Bible facts, catechism, prayers, and hymns

• Learn liturgical, intercessory, and contemplative prayer

• Learn to regard and participate in sacred music as a form of prayer

 

Aptitudes

• Cultivate longing for God

• Develop habits of stillness and adoration

• Begin to develop a habit of prayer, a love for the mysteries of the faith, and a desire for God’s beauty and truth

• Develop a habit of noticing the presence of God

 

Art

 

Knowledge

• Learn how to look at and begin to interpret paintings. K.4A-C

• Study and give rudimentary explanation of Christian art and iconography

• Study and give rudimentary explanation of art related to Egypt

• Begin to know properties, characteristics, and qualities of beauty. K.1A&B

• Begin to recognize how art expresses cultural ideals

 

Skills

• Learn how to look at, examine, and see a painting and other works of art. K.3A-D

• Learn to tell the story of a painting. K.3A-D

• Begin to render as well as draw imaginatively. K.2A-C

• Learn basics of drawing, painting, and sculpting. K.2A-C

• Learn to copy according to established rules

 

Aptitudes

• Acquire habits of attending, noticing, sitting still, and concentrating

• Learn discipline from following simple projects through to completion

• Begin to develop eye and appreciation for beauty

• Begin to question works of art for their meaning

 

Language: Literature, Grammar, Composition, and Drama

Knowledge

• Alphabet

• Phonics and reading. K.2A&B

• Spelling. K.2C

• Beginning writing. K.2E

• Beginning poetic understanding (rhymes, alliteration, folk tales, fables, fairy tales, and nursery rhymes). K.2A(i-ii), K.8A&B

• Early vocabulary, phrases, prayers. K.3A-C

 

Skills

• Learn parts of a book, printed letters, and word boundaries; and, interact with book independently. K.2D, K.4

• Develop reading comprehension, at least 25 high-frequency words. K.2B(iv)

• Learn good penmanship, using proper technique

• Recognize and write complete sentences. K.10D(i)

• Understand and use beginning punctuation, capital letters, singular/plural nouns, articles, and pronouns. K.10D

• Be able to order simple ideas, form sentences, revise, and copy final work. K.10A-E

• Narration: re-tell stories in detail, with vocal clarity, poise, and eye contact. K.6A-F, K.7A-D

• Act out stories with other students as characters. K.8C

• Develop ability to identify main idea and steps in a sequence. K.8D

• Generate and answer comprehension questions about a reading passage in complete sentences. K.5A-I

• Copy work: copy sentences from works of history, the Bible, or literature

• Dictation: listen to an oral recitation and write down a sentence(s) from works of history, the Bible, or literature. K.11A&B

• Recitation: recite poems or psalms from memory with vocal clarity, poise, and eye contact

• Conversation: ‘Socratic’ discussions should teach students to begin questioning and discussing stories, pictures, fables, or proverbs according to four rules: 1) Read the text carefully. 2) Listen to what others say and don’t interrupt. 3) Speak clearly. 4) Give others your respect. K.1D-E

• Conduct basic research to answer questions that arise. K.12A-E

 

Aptitudes

• Develop capacity for listening. K.1A

• Develop memory

• Follow oral directions. K.1B

• Appreciate playfulness in language. K.9A-E

• Develop habits of concentration, stillness, and memory

• Learn to ask questions about the moral or meaning of stories and symbols. K.1A

• Learn to speak directly and confidently. K.1C

 

Nature Studies

 

Knowledge

• Distinguish between living and nonliving things, and identify the basic needs of living things. K.9A&B

• State and “catalogue” animals of certain species by their differences. K.10A&B

• Learn to identify flora, fauna, and wildlife indigenous to the region. SS2.14C

• Trace the life cycle of a plant: seed, seedling, plant, flower, and fruit. K.10D

• Understand basic regional geography (rocks, water, soil). K.7A-C

• Identify weather, seasons, and basic heavenly bodies. K.8A-C

 

Skills

• Be able to narrate the above knowledge

• Develop skill of observing (relative location, patterns of movement), rendering, and cataloguing (hot/cold, fast/slow, big/little, etc.) this knowledge in a “nature notebook.” K.2A-E, K.4A&B, K.5A&B, K.6C&D

• Conduct simple investigations. K.1A&B, K.2B, K.3A-C

 

Aptitudes

• Develop a capacity at attend to and notice nature

• Develop wonder and appreciation for the natural world

 

Mathematics 

 

Knowledge

• Acquire basic numeracy

• Understand equivalent forms of the same number using diagrams, objects, and numbers

• Recognize basic geometrical shapes and parts of shapes

• Solve word problems

 

Skills

• Count, read, write, and compare numbers up to 1,000, both symbolically and through physical construction

• Acquire facility with basics of place value

• Perform basic addition and subtraction functions of one-, two-, and three-digit numbers

• Understand basic fraction concepts

• Count by 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 10s

• Identify and construct circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, ovals, cubes, tetrahedral pyramids, cylinders, cones, spheres, and rectangular prisms

• Recognize and describe appearance of basic patterns in nature

• Recognize equivalency in number, shape, pattern, and other physical characteristics

• Construct basic sets and groupings of objects in the environment and nature and be able to articulate the criteria for inclusion and exclusion

• Recognize and solve simple replacement codes

• Solve simple geometric puzzles

• Recognize the relationship of tone to the size, length, shape, and material of the object being sounded (e.g., bells of different size being rung or the length or thickness of a string being plucked)

• Take linear measurement and be able to articulate changes in measurement over time; introduce basic means of recording measurement

• Tell and record time and change sin time in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years

• Recognize and calculate basic currency; introduce coin-tossing scenarios as an introduction to probability

 

Aptitudes

• Recognize the ubiquity of number and shape in the world around us

• Develop a sense of wonder at recognizing how the world can be expressed mathematically

• Develop a love for constructing math, numerically and geometrically

 

Music

 

Knowledge

• Begin to understand elements of music: melody, rhythm, pitch, tone. K.1D&E

• Know a variety of instruments by sight and by sound. K.1C

• Be introduced to the tradition of sacred music. K.3A&B

 

Skills

• Begin to acquire some musical skill singing and playing elementary instruments. K.1A&B, K.2A-E

• Begin to concentrate on, listen to, and discuss a piece of music. K.4A-C

 

Aptitudes

• Begin to develop a love and appreciation for beautiful music and its power

• Begin to understand the relationship between music, prayer, and liturgy

• Acquire the habit and develop powers of patient, attentive listening

 

Physical Education 

 

Knowledge

• Understand their bodies and physical abilities as a gift

• Begin to learn the rules of major sports and races

 

Skills

• Begin to acquire facility in throwing, catching, hitting, and kicking

• Begin to learn basic dance steps

• Begin to deliberately coordinate body to physical activity

 

Aptitudes

• Practice teamwork and good sportsmanship