Kindergarten

Discovery of self and others are the essential themes in kindergarten. Students begin their studies of societies and groups by learning and practicing ways to describe themselves and the people they know. Through our cross-curricular body-mapping unit, children further explore and deepen their understanding of various aspects of their identity, creating self-portraits and sharing their family’s celebrations and traditions. The students’ connection to the Foote community is strengthened as they meet and learn about the responsibilities of the adults at our school and create a campus map.

Children's fascination with the world around them provides the basis for the Kindergarten science program. Students explore the classroom and outdoors through field trips, visits from members of the New Haven community, building, planting and experimenting. A highlight of the kindergarten year occurs in the early spring when children tap the sugar maple trees on campus and gathering for a community maple syrup boil. This annual tradition culminates in a delicious pancake breakfast where we come together as a community to celebrate the harvest!

Daily read-alouds in a warm and nurturing setting encourage everyone to share observations, make predictions and identify elements of a story. Children practice analyzing the sound structure of words and are introduced to letter recognition, letter writing and letter-sound correspondence in an explicit and systematic way. Differentiated instruction in reading groups ensures that each child's individual needs are met, with activities tailored to various skill levels. In their writing, Kindergartners employ dictation and phonetic spelling to encode their own ideas and to reinforce their knowledge of sound-symbol relationships.

Familiarity and comfort with numbers are principal goals of mathematics in Kindergarten. Concepts are presented through concrete, hands-on activities and progress toward more abstract and complex approaches to problem solving. Children engage in mathematical conversations and activities as they gain proficiency in counting, recognizing patterns and geometric shapes, and grouping items based on attributes. The concept of quantity is a significant focus in Kindergarten, as children begin to understand the processes of addition and subtraction.

Learn more about Math at Foote

In kindergarten, students begin their Spanish learning journey through two thematic units: All About Me and My World and the World Around Me — units that introduce foundational concepts we will continue to build on in subsequent years. Students learn to answer basic questions about themselves and engage with the world using simple Spanish vocabulary. Cultural exploration is woven into language learning — counting llamas in Peru, discovering Central American jungle animals while learning their names, and exploring traditions like the Festival of the Sun (Inti Raymi) — comparing these cultures to their own experiences, traditions, and communities.

With colors, shapes, and forms as their tools, students embark on a journey of artistic discovery using a variety of media — from paint and clay to fabric, wood, wire, and natural materials. We emphasize not only the development of basic artistic techniques, but also the cultivation of essential skills such as fine-motor coordination, patience, and concentration. They are introduced to scissor-handling, painting techniques, and craftsmanship while exploring various genres, including portraiture, landscapes, still life, and abstract art, inviting students to connect with different forms of expression

Kindergarten students begin to recognize and demonstrate their singing voice, gain awareness of personal space through movement, and demonstrate cooperation and listening skills. Musical opposites are highlighted as students distinguish between beat and rhythm, high and low, loud and soft, fast and slow and same and different. By the end of the year, the students are able to perform, read and notate the rhythm and melody of simple songs and rhymes.

The kindergarten PE curriculum emphasizes the development of fine- and gross-motor skills  — running, skipping, hopping, and jumping — and object-control skills like throwing, catching, dribbling, and striking. Using a variety of equipment they learn spatial awareness, body control, and active listening. Engaging in games and team-based activities promotes cooperation, problem-solving, and good sportsmanship. Cultivated for all fitness levels, the PE curriculum fosters physical, social, and emotional growth in a safe, supportive environment, highlighting the importance of safety, participation, and teamwork at this critical developmental stage.

Our goal in kindergarten is simple: we want to instill a love of books and literature, we aim to introduce our students to wonderful characters from around the world and we hope to help our kindergarteners develop a sense of empathy for all. Kindergarten library classes always begin with a read aloud. The joy of sharing a book together prompts conversation, connections, questions, and laughter. Kindergarteners can explore the ever-expanding and diverse library collection and choose a book to take home and share with their family.