Activities

The kindergarten room is usually a cheerful, homelike one, with toys, picture books, plants, and pets. At times the children sit around a table, busy cutting, pounding on wood, folding, pasting, painting, working with clay, handling various types of materials, and manipulating many types of toys. Such activity helps develop eye-hand coordination and a readiness for writing. At other times the children gather around the teacher to listen to stories, to sing simple songs, to use rhythm instruments. At certain periods they play indoor or outdoor games. A recess is also provided.

The teacher tries to encourage interest in books by taking the children on visits to the school library. Occasionally, the teacher takes the children on exploring trips outside the school---perhaps to a park, a zoo, or a fire station.

Many kindergartens teach reading, arithmetic, and other academic subjects. In reading, the children are expected to learn the alphabet and then progress to reading simple sentences. Arithmetic usually is simple addition and subtraction, using worksheets first with illustrations of everyday objects and, later, numerals. Children are also taught how to read clocks and calendars.

Science instruction is concerned with aspects of the physical world, such as the parts of the body and their functions and the relationship of the sun to night and day. Social science usually involves familiarizing the children with the role of various workers in the community, such as fire fighters and police officers.

Classes are usually small because of the need for individual attention. There should be one teacher for every 15 to 20 students. In most school systems, the kindergarten session is a half day, either in the morning or in the afternoon. Some school systems conduct full-day kindergarten sessions. Kindergarten teachers must have special training. Some states require that the teacher have a kindergarten certificate.