Kindergarten

What are we doing in the library?

In September, our kindergartners will embark on an exciting journey to discover the world of books by learning how to use the school library. They will be introduced to the library space, explore different types of books, and understand the importance of taking good care of them. Additionally, they will learn the steps for borrowing books, helping to build early responsibility and a lifelong love of reading. This foundational experience will support their literacy development and foster a joyful connection to stories and learning.

Here are some books that we will be reading together:

• Manners with a Library Book by Amanda Doering Tourville

• Do Not Bring your Dragon to the Library by Julie Gassman

Biographies - We will be diving into biographies.  As we read, students will practice using text features like timelines, headings, and pictures to help them better understand what we're reading.

We’ll also focus on putting events in order and seeing how one event leads to another, helping students connect real people to the events that shaped their lives. These lessons support our reading goals by building strong skills in reading nonfiction, using text features, and understanding the sequence of events. We are using the Little People, Big Dreams book series. We will be starting with Shakira and Frida Kahlo in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

October

This month, our students will be using Code & Go Mice to explore the basics of programming! Through fun, hands-on activities, students will learn important skills like sequencing, problem-solving, and giving step-by-step directions. These early coding experiences help build critical thinking in a playful and engaging way! 

We will be reading In a Dark, Dark House by Midori Pham. Students will focus on identifying the characters and setting of the story and will practice retelling key events to demonstrate their understanding of the text. We will also read Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, and students will take part in a design challenge. This activity aligns with the ISTE Standards for Students, as students will practice being Innovative Designers by using their imagination and creativity to plan, build, and improve their own solutions to a problem inspired by the story.

November

Used Book Fair – November 4–7
Students will have the opportunity to shop at the Used Book Fair from November 4th through November 7th. This event is a major fundraiser for our school library—last year we raised over $1,000 to purchase new books!

All books are donated by members of our Nederland community and will be priced at $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers. Please take a moment to look through and discuss the books your child brings home from the fair. We do our best to review donations, but we’re not able to check every book individually

Students will explore the essential question: What Makes a Community? They will read Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora while practicing making and checking predictions, describing characters, and identifying descriptive words from anchor charts. This lesson helps students deepen comprehension, engage with the text, and expand their vocabulary as they learn about the people, places, and roles that make up a community.

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, kindergarten students will enjoy a virtual storytime of Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard, learning about culture, family, and tradition. After the story, they will use Playdoh to create their own fry bread, exploring creativity and hands-on learning!

Students will read How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace, focusing on identifying key details and problem-solving strategies in the story. After reading, they will take on a hands-on design challenge using KEVA planks to create a structure that could “catch a turkey,” applying ISTE standards as Innovative Designers. This activity encourages creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on problem solving while connecting reading comprehension to real-world design and engineering skills.

December

Students will explore the essential question: What Makes a Community? They will read Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora while practicing making and checking predictions, describing characters, and identifying descriptive words from anchor charts. This lesson helps students deepen comprehension, engage with the text, and expand their vocabulary as they learn about the people, places, and roles that make up a community.

Students will also participate in a festive Book Tasting, sampling a variety of titles across nonfiction, fiction, and early readers. This engaging activity encourages students to explore new genres, discover fresh interests, and build excitement around reading as they “taste-test” books they might not have tried before.

January

This month, kindergarteners will learn about online safety using the Common Sense Education Digital Citizenship curriculum. We will also read Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart, focusing on activating background knowledge to construct meaning and draw inferences. In addition, students will enjoy The Mitten by Jan Brett while practicing making predictions. 

Starting in January and continuing through the March, we will be reading the Colorado Children’s Book Award picture book nominees. Students will explore all 10 titles, vote for their favorite book, and help cast our school’s official vote.   

2026 Colorado Children’s Book Award – Picture Book Nominees

The Book That Almost Rhymed — Omar Abed
Just Like Millie — Lauren Castillo
The Book That Can Read Your Mind — Marianna Coppo
Knight Owl and Early Bird — Christopher Denise
We Are Definitely Human — X. Fang
I Lived Inside a Whale — Xin Li
The Yellow Bus — Loren Long
Time to Make Art — Jeff Mack
Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden — Christy Mandin
A Mischief of Mice — Christie Matheson