What your child learns in Kindergarten in California
Kindergarten in California is a year of learning through play, stories and hands-on activities. Children learn letters and sounds, count to 100 and start adding and taking away within 10. Social studies is “Learning and Working Now and Long Ago”: rules, jobs, calendars and the flags and symbols of the country and the state.
Kindergarten subjects in the California Content Standards
Math
Focus areas
- Number and operations: counting to 100, numbers to 20, and adding and subtracting within 10
- Measurement, data and geometry: shapes, measuring and reading data
- Mathematical practices: making sense of problems and explaining reasoning
10 units, including Count to 10, Make 5 and 10, Add & Take Away, More, Less, Same.
English Language Arts
Focus areas
- Reading literature and informational text: letters, sounds and first words
- Writing: drawing and writing to share an idea
- Speaking and listening: sharing ideas and building on what others say
12 units, including Letter Partners, First Sounds, Rhyme Time, Clap the Beat.
Science
Focus areas
- Pushes and pulls
- Weather and the sun's warmth
- What plants and animals need
8 units, including What Living Things Need, Push & Pull, Weather & Seasons, Care for Our Earth.
Social Studies
Focus areas
- Learning and working now and long ago
- Good citizens, rules and symbols
- Maps of familiar places
10 units, including Families, Fair & Kind, Places Near Me, My Jobs, Rules & Leaders.
Printable Kindergarten sheets
One free practice sheet for each subject, with an answer key. Print them, or work through them on screen.
What to look for on the report card
Expect comments on letters and sounds, counting, following routines, getting along with classmates and how your child shares ideas.
California report cards describe learning with Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding. See what each level means.
California's social and emotional learning competencies apply in every grade. Read about Social and emotional learning.
Common questions
Kindergarten covers math, English language arts, science, social studies in the California Content Standards. Kindergarten in California is a year of learning through play, stories and hands-on activities. Children learn letters and sounds, count to 100 and start adding and taking away within 10. Social studies is “Learning and Working Now and Long Ago”: rules, jobs, calendars and the flags and symbols of the country and the state.
California report cards describe learning with Beginning, Approaching, Meeting, Exceeding.
Short, regular practice works better than long sessions: 10 to 15 minutes a few times a week, on the skills your child's teacher flags. Read together, use math in real life, and praise effort.
Practice Kindergarten skills with Gradelings
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