Kindergarten Curriculum Overview

Crestwood Public School Term 1 2023

Overview of Teaching and Learning

Programming is the process of selecting and sequencing learning experiences which enable students to engage with syllabus outcomes and develop subject specific skills and knowledge. The process of programming is typically shared and offers an opportunity for collaboration, professional reflection and evaluation.

Programs:

reflect the needs, interests and abilities of students
are based on syllabus outcomes and include a variety of teaching, learning and embedded assessment activities, strategies and resources to address the learning needs of all students
are flexible and dynamic documents that change in response to student learning needs, school context, teacher evaluation and feedback

English

In English, students study language in its various textual forms, which develop in complexity to understand how meaning is shaped, conveyed, interpreted and reflected. Students learn that there are similarities and differences between oral and written language. Students will do this through the implementation of the units of work released by the Department of Education in line with the new K-2 English Syllabus.

Oral language and communication: Students are learning to listen for understanding, social and learning interactions. They are learning to understand and use grammar when speaking .
Vocabulary: In Term 1 students are building their ability to use a variety of words in different Key Learning Areas.
Phonic knowledge: Students are learning individual phonemes (sounds) and begin to blend taught sounds in order to read easily decodable texts.
Phonological awareness: Students are learning phonemes, syllables in words and whole word recognition.
Print conventions: Through regular read alouds, students are developing an understanding of the direction of print and features of texts.
Reading fluency: Students experience a wide range of texts that are read aloud by the teacher. When reading, children are focusing on reading with phrasing and expression.
Reading comprehension: Before, during and after reading, students engage in conversations about the details and understanding of texts.

Creating written texts: When creating their own texts, students are learning word-level language and the foundation of sentences.
Spelling: Phonics forms the basis of all English programs in Term 1. Students are explicitly taught single sounds and sight words to support their learning in reading and writing.

Handwriting: Students produce uppercase and lowercase letters in the correct formation of letters using NSW Foundation Font in the order of taught sounds.

Mathematics

Through the study of mathematics, students develop essential concepts and skills and apply them to deepen their understanding of the world. Students will do this through the implementation of the units of work released by the Department of Education in line with the new K-2 Mathematics Syllabus. In Mathematics K–2, students:

develop essential numeracy skills and mathematical fluency
identify, describe and apply patterns and relationships
develop their reasoning and problem-solving skills
apply their knowledge and understanding in practical situations and make informed decisions.

Number and algebra

demonstrates an understanding of how whole numbers indicate quantity
reads numerals and represents whole numbers to at least 20

Measurement and space

sorts, describes, names and makes two-dimensional shapes, including triangles, circles, squares and rectangles

Statistics and probability

contributes to collecting data and interprets data displays made from objects

Working mathematically

Students begin to develop their understanding and fluency in mathematics through exploring and connecting mathematical concepts and communicate their thinking and reasoning.

Science & Technology

The Physical World strand focuses on the physical characteristics of objects and the effects of these on how they move. This allows students to investigate how push and pull forces create movement and introduces the fundamental concepts of force and motion. This unit is strongly linked to the study of Three-Dimensional Space in Mathematics.

HSIE (History)

Students communicate stories of their own family heritage and that of others. They identify similarities and differences between families and recognise how important family events are commemorated. Families will be encouraged to share information about their heritage in order to build a home to school relationship and a strong sense of belonging for students.

Creative Arts

Students will be introduced to colour through the analysis of colour in the world and famous artworks. They will explore: primary colours, secondary colours, the colour wheel, complementary colours, and warm and cool colours. Throughout the term students will experiment with making different colours.

Personal Development, Health, Physical Education

In Term 1, students will discuss and practise interpersonal skills to help them interact positively with others. They will develop the skills needed to communicate and play cooperatively in a variety of situations. We will learn how to form and keep relationships. As part of this unit, the students will be exploring the following Key Inquiry Questions -

How can we care for and include each other?
What choices can make me safe, supported and active?

Students are expected to participate in 150 minutes of physical activity each week.

Be Skilled Be Fit teaches students for 60 minutes on Tuesday. The focus for Early Stage 1 students will be on the development of their fundamental skills. This will include learning correct running techniques, and ball skills such as throwing (under and overarm), bouncing, catching, passing and kicking.
In addition, classroom teachers include 90 minutes throughout the rest of the week, including grade sport on Thursday. In Term 1 the focus will be practising movement skills and sequences relation to space, time and effort. Students will also develop skills to effectively interact with others.

Library

This term Kindergarten will be introduced to the procedures of the library, borrowing/returning on a fortnightly basis. The ‘Stars of the Library’ will be introduced. Each lesson we will engage in shared reading and this term Big Books will be used to reinforce concepts of print. Students will also be introduced to the Premier's Reading Challenge, the location of these texts in the library and will be encouraged to complete the 2023 Premier's Reading Challenge as part of their school home reading program. They will be shown how to logon and enter books via the website.