Pre-Kindergarten 3

Curriculum Guidelines – PK3 and PK4
Follow the Texas Preschool Guidelines

In PK3, weekly theme-based units are used to build a strong foundation in math, science, pre-literacy, social, emotional, and fine/gross motor skills. The PK3 curriculum is designed to build excitement for learning and investigating, a strong faith, a distinct sense of independence, and a passion for play! Every week, math, science, literacy, and social studies are incorporated into student learning, art, and play.

Students have religion instruction every day, formal physical education and Spanish classes twice per week, library once per week, and a rotation of art, drama, music, and technology classes each quarter.

Sample theme-based units include Construction Site, Monsters!, Camping, At the Zoo, Grocery Store, Pumpkins and Apples, In My Garden, Bugs and Insects, Mo Willems, Play Ball!, and Good Neighbor Week – a Study of Compliments and Manners.

English Language Arts
Pre-literacy skills are built through the introduction of:

  • Letters and their sounds
  • Songs and rhymes
  • Daily read-alouds
  • Story dictation

Mathematics
Math concepts are incorporated into our daily activities to build numerical awareness and introduce beginning math skills, including:

  • One-to-one correspondence to 10
  • Rote counting to 20
  • The concept of more than and less than
  • Graphs and charts to depict information (Bar, line, and tally)
  • Building number stories with manipulatives to depict addition and subtraction
  • Identifying shapes, completing patterns, and categorizing objects
  • Basic concepts of measurement

Science
Science topics include:

  • The natural world – weather, life cycle (plants and animals), seasons, animals and habitats, primary/secondary colors and rainbows
  • Physics and Chemistry – buoyancy, magnetism, gravity, ramps, catapults, engineering, cooking
  • The human body – healthy eating, five senses, hygiene, exercise and fitness

Social Studies
Students begin to understand their role in our community by

  • Learning about places and people who live and work in our neighborhood
  • Using maps and studying modes of transportation
  • Practicing kindness and empathy for others

Social and Emotional Growth
Students build social and emotional skills by learning the vocabulary and tools to:

  • Express feelings
  • Problem solve
  • Share and take turns
  • Communicate with others

Religion
Religion topics include:

  • God and Jesus
  • Creation
  • Different ways to pray
  • Bible stories
  • Catholic prayers
  • Catholic holidays
  • Students participate in a Giving of Ourselves (GO) Project to serve our community
  • Students attend school mass bi-monthly as well as during the seasons of Advent and Lent

Spanish
Exposure to the Spanish language through songs, stories, games, pictures, and group activities

  • Build vocabulary through thematic units
  • Explore beginning, basic grammar concepts
  • Exposure to a variety of Hispanic cultural events, centered around holidays and cultural customs
  • Make comparisons between English and Spansih and between cultures creating cultural awareness, mutual respect and tolerance