In Kindergarten, students lay the foundation for success in English Language Arts in elementary school. The kindergarten ELA curriculum has two main goals: to instill a love of reading in all students by introducing engaging texts and authors and to help students learn about the environment around them—particularly how the changing seasons influence weather, animals, and plants. In each unit, students engage in short writing projects connected to the core texts that develop their narrative, informational, and opinion writing skills.
Using authentic, engaging read-aloud texts, teachers help students develop their language comprehension and address grade-level reading, writing, language, and speaking and listening standards. Over the course of Kindergarten ELA, students deepen their understanding of the world around them through thematically-aligned, knowledge-building units, embedded daily writing instruction, and frequent opportunities for in-class discussion.
Lessons Total Instructional Days
Unit 1: Welcome to School 12 12
Unit 2: Noticing Patterns in Stories 12 13
Unit 3: Celebrating Fall 16 17
Unit 4: Falling in Love with Authors and Illustrators 22 26
Unit 5: Winter Wonderland 20 22
Unit 6: Exploring Life Cycles 22 26
Unit 7: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 17 21
Total 121 137
Unit 1: Welcome to School
CORE TEXTS
Wemberly Worried
by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books, 2010) — AD480L
The King of Kindergarten
by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2019) — AD720L
I Like Myself!
by Karen Beaumont (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2004)
I Am Every Good Thing
by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Gordon C. James (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020)
The Crayon Box That Talked
by Shane Derolf (Random House Books for Young Readers, 1997) — 460L
Amazing Grace
by Mary Hoffman and illustrated by Caroline Binch (Dial Books, 1991) — AD680L
Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie
by Laura Rankin (Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2007) — AD490L
Words Are Not for Hurting
by Elizabeth Verdick (Free Spirit Publishing, 2004) — AD450L
Today I Feel Silly And Other Moods that Make My Day
by Jamie Lee Curtis (HarperCollins, 1998) — AD490L
You Hold Me Up
by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Danielle Daniel (Ocra Book Publishers, 2017) — 140L
INDEPENDENT READING RESOURCES
All Because You Matter by Tami Charles
Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim
Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho and Dung Ho
I Am Enough by Grace Byers
I'm New Here by Anne Sibley O'Brien
Lola Goes to School by Anna McQuinn
Ming Goes to School by Deirdre Sullivan
One by Kathryn Otoshi
Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen
Our Favorite Day of the Year by A.E. Ali
Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev
The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade by Justin Roberts
Twindergarten by Nikki Ehrlich
Ways to Welcome by Linda Ashman
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Glossary (Teacher Edition)
LESSONS
Lesson 1 Lesson 1 Target Task Handout
Lesson 2 Lesson 2 Target Task Handout
Lesson 3 Lesson 3 Target Task Handout
Lesson 4 Lesson 4 Target Task Handout
Lesson 5 Lesson 5 Target Task Handout
Lesson 6 Lesson 6 Target Task Handout
Lesson 7 Lesson 7 Target Task Handout
Lesson 8 Lesson 8 Target Task Handout
Lesson 9 Lesson 9 Target Task Handout
Lesson 10 Lesson 10 Target Task Handout
Lesson 11 Lesson 11 Target Task Handout
Unit 2: Noticing Patterns in Stories
CORE TEXTS
Book: The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle (Philomel Books, 1985) — 330L
Book: Jump, Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan (Greenwillow Books, 1989) — NPL
Book: We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Helen Oxenbury and Michael Rosen (Alladin Paperbacks, 2003) — BR280L
Book: We’re Going on a Lion Hunt by David Axtell (Square Fish, 2007) — BR260L
Book: Sitting Down to Eat by Bill Harley (August House, 2005)
Book: The Napping House by Audrey Wood (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2009)
Book: Rap a Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles – Think of That! by Leo Dillon (Blue Sky Press, 2002) — AD360L
Book: Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho (Scholastic Inc, 2000) — AD600L
Book: Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys, and Their Monkey Business, by Esphyr Slobodkina (Harper Collins, 1987) — AD480L
Assessment Text: “Hot Pot Night!” by Vincent Chen and illustrated by Vincent Chen (Charlesbridge) — AD190LL
INDEPENDENT READING RESOURCES
A Hippy-Hoppy Toad by Peggy Archer
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
Hot Pot Night! by Vincent Chen
I Went Walking by Sue Williams
One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree by Daniel Bernstrom
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Glossary (Teacher Edition)
ASSESSMENTS
Lesson 1 Lesson 1 Target Task Handout
Lesson 2 Lesson 2 Target Task Handout
Lesson 3 Lesson 3 Target Task Handout
Lesson 4 Lesson 4 Target Task Handout
Lesson 5 Lesson 5 Target Task Handout
Lesson 6 Lesson 6 Target Task Handout
Lesson 7 Lesson 7 Target Task Handout
Lesson 8 Lesson 8 Target Task Handout
Lesson 9 Lesson 9 Target Task Handout
Lesson 10 Lesson 10 Target Task Handout
Lesson 11 Lesson 11 Target Task Handout
Unit 3: Celebrating Fall
CORE TEXTS
Fall Weather: Cooler Temperatures by Martha E. H. Rustad (Millbrook Press, 2011) — 530L
Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro (HarperCollins, 2015) — 580L
Fall Harvest Fun by Martha E. H. Rustad (Lerner Publishing Group)
Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins (Scholastic Press, 1998) — IG570L
Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (Harcourt, 2005) — AD310L
We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger (Cartwheel Books, 2008) — AD410L
Leaves by David Ezra Stein (G.P. Putman’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2010) — AD180L
The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons (Holiday House, 1999) — AD570L
Apples by Gail Gibbons (Holiday House, 2001) — 650L
Assessment Text: “Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin Pie” by Jill Esbaum (National Geographic Kids) — AD507LL
INDEPENDENT READING RESOURCES
Apple Picking Day! by Candice Ransom
Applesauce Day by Lisa Amstutz
By the Light of the Harvest Moon by Harriet Ziefert
Fall is Not Easy by Marty Kelley
Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak
Hiking Day by Anne Rockwell
In the Middle of Fall by Kevin Henkes
The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown
The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves! by Lucille Colandro
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Glossary (Teacher Edition)
ASSESSMENTS
Lesson 1 Lesson 1 Target Task Handout
Lesson 2 Lesson 2 Target Task Handout
Lesson 3 Lesson 3 Target Task Handout
Lesson 4 Lesson 4 Target Task Handout
Lesson 5 Lesson 5 Target Task Handout
Lesson 6 Lesson 6 Target Task Handout
Lesson 7 Lesson 7 Target Task Handout
Lesson 8 Lesson 8 Target Task Handout
Lesson 9 Lesson 9 Target Task Handout
Lesson 10 Lesson 10 Target Task Handout
Lesson 11 Lesson 11 Target Task Handout
Lesson 12 Lesson 12 Target Task Handout
Lesson 13 Lesson 13 Target Task Handout
Lesson 14 Lesson 14 Target Task Handout
Lesson 15 Lesson 15 Target Task Handout
Unit 4: Falling in Love with Authors and Illustrators
CORE TEXTS
The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin (Charlesbridge, 2001) — 390L
Kite Flying by Grace Lin (Dragonfly Books, 2004) — 280L
Dim Sum for Everyone! by Grace Lin (Dragonfly Books, 2003) — AD250L
Fortune Cookie Fortunes by Grace Lin (Dragonfly Books, 2006) — 490L
Niño Wrestles the World by Yuyi Morales (Square Fish, 2015) — 420L
Tito Puente, Mambo King by Monica Brown (Rayo, 2013) — AD620L
My Name is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz by Monica Brown (Cooper Square Publishing LLC, 2004) — AD0L
Pelé, King of Soccer by Monica Brown (HarperCollins, 2017) — AD620L
My Name is Gabriela: The Life of Gabriela Mistral by Monica Brown (National Geographic School Pub, 2010) — AD440L
The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009)
Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book by Yuyi Morales (Roaring Book Press, 2008) — AD530L
The Tortoise & the Hare by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition, 2013)
The Grasshopper and the Ants by Jerry Pinkney (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; First Edition edition, 2015)
Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales (Chronicle Books, 2016) — 540L
Dreamers by Yuyi Morales (Neal Porter Books; Illustrated Edition, 2018) — AD480L
Assessment Text: “Thanking the Moon” by Grace Lin (Knopf Books for Young Readers) — AD1060LL
INDEPENDENT READING RESOURCES
Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask by Xavier Garza
The Great and Mighty Nikko by Xavier Garza
Grace Lin
A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin
A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin
Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Lin (390L)
Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival by Grace Lin
What Will Fit? (Storytelling Math) by Grace Lin
Jerry Pinkney
Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinkney (AD700L)
Puss in Boots by Jerry Pinkney
The Little Red Hen by Jerry Pinkney
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Jerry Pinkney (540L)
Three Little Kittens by Jerry Pinkney (380L)
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jerry Pinkney
Monica Brown
Butterflies on Carmen Street by Monica Brown (820L)
Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos by Monica Brown
My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez by Monica Brown
Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown
Yuyi Morales
Ladder to the Moon by Yuyi Morales, Maya Soetoro-Nf
Little Night/Nochecita by Yuyi Morales
Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes, Yuyi Morales
My Abuelita by Tony Johnston and Yuyi Morales
Rudas: Niño’s Horrendous Hermanitas by Yuyi Morales (460L)
Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Glossary (Teacher Edition)
ASSESSMENTS
Lesson 1 Lesson 1 Target Task Handout
Lesson 2 Lesson 2 Target Task Handout
Lesson 3 Lesson 3 Target Task Handout
Lesson 4 Lesson 4 Target Task Handout
Lesson 5 Lesson 5 Target Task Handout
Lesson 6 Lesson 6 Target Task Handout
Lesson 7 Lesson 7 Target Task Handout
Lesson 8 Lesson 8 Target Task Handout
Lesson 9 Lesson 9 Target Task Handout
Lesson 10 Lesson 10 Target Task Handout
Lesson 11 Lesson 11 Target Task Handout
Lesson 12 Lesson 12 Target Task Handout
Lesson 13 Lesson 13 Target Task Handout
Lesson 14 Lesson 14 Target Task Handout
Lesson 15 Lesson 15 Target Task Handout
Lesson 16 Lesson 16 Target Task Handout
Lesson 17 Lesson 17 Target Task Handout
Lesson 18 Lesson 18 Target Task Handout
Lesson 19 Lesson 19 Target Task Handout
Lesson 20 Lesson 20 Target Task Handout
Lesson 22 Lesson 22 Target Task Handout
Unit 5: Winter Wonderland
CORE TEXTS
It’s Snowing! by Gail Gibbons (Holiday House, 2012) — AD790L
The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino (Chronicle Books, 2009)
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (Viking, 1962)
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner (Chronicle Books, 2014) — AD600L
Animals in Winter by Henrietta Bancroft (HarperCollins, 1996) — AD480L
Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints by Millicent E. Selsam (HarperCollins, 1998) — AD490L
Wild Tracks! A Guide to Nature’s Footprints by Jim Arnosky (Sterling Children’s Books, 2015)
The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader (Aladdin; Reprint edition, 1993) — AD710L
Tracks in the Snow by Wong Herbert Yee (Square Fish; First edition, 2007) — AD440L
The Mitten by Jan Brett (G.P. Putman’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 1996) — 600L
The Hat by Jan Brett (G.P. Putman’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 1997) — 540L
Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett (G.P. Putman’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 2012) — 490L
Assessment Text: “Curious About Snow” by Gina Shaw (Grosset & Dunlap) — NC830LL
INDEPENDENT READING RESOURCES
Cozy by Jan Brett
Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett
The Snowy Nap by Jan Brett (660L)
The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett
The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett
Cold and Hot by Jacqueline Sweeney
Dusk by Uri Shulevitz
Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak
Iguanas in the Snow by Francisco X. Alarcon
In the Snow by Huy Voun Lee
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
Snow by Uri Shulevitz
Snow Day! by Barbara Joosse
The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming
When This World Was New by D.H. Figueredo
White Snow Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt
Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
Footprints in the Snow by Cynthia Benjamin
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart
What Can You See in Winter? by Sian Smith
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Glossary (Teacher Edition)
ASSESSMENTS
LESSONS
Lesson 1 Lesson 1 Target Task Handout
Lesson 2 Lesson 2 Target Task Handout
Lesson 3 Lesson 3 Target Task Handout
Lesson 4 Lesson 4 Target Task Handout
Lesson 5 Lesson 5 Target Task Handout
Lesson 6 Lesson 6 Target Task Handout
Lesson 7 Lesson 7 Target Task Handout
Lesson 8 Lesson 8 Target Task Handout
Lesson 9 Lesson 9 Target Task Handout
Lesson 10 Lesson 10 Target Task Handout
Lesson 11 Lesson 11 Target Task Handout
Lesson 12 Lesson 12 Target Task Handout
Lesson 13 Lesson 13 Target Task Handout
Lesson 14 Lesson 14 Target Task Handout
Lesson 15 Lesson 15 Target Task Handout
Lesson 16 Lesson 16 Target Task Handout
Lesson 17 Lesson 17 Target Task Handout
Lesson 18 Lesson 18 Target Task Handout
Lesson 20 Lesson 20 Target Task Handout
Unit 6: Exploring Life Cycles
CORE TEXTS
It’s Spring! by Linda Glaser (National Geographic School Pub; 1 edition, 2010) — AD590L
What’s Alive? by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld (HarperCollins; 1 edition, 1995) — 430L
How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan (HarperCollins; Revised edition, 2015) — AD470L
From Seed to Sunflower by Mari Schuh — 510L
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle (Little Simon; Reprint edition, 2009) — 500L
Who Will Plant a Tree? by Jerry Pallotta (Sleeping Bear Press, 2010)
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert (HMH Books for Young Readers; 1 edition, 2001) — AD459L
From Caterpillar to Butterfly by Deborah Heiligman (HarperCollins; Revised edition, 2015) — 490L
Have you Heard the Nesting Bird? by Rita Gray (HMH Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition, 2017) — AD430L
A Nest Full of Eggs by Priscilla Belz (Jenkins, HarperCollins; Revised edition, 2015) — AD630L
The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen and Jerry Pinkney (Morrow Junior Books; 1st edition, 1999) — AD820L
Frogs by Gail Gibbons (Holiday House; Reprint edition, 1993) — AD600L
From Tadpole to Frog by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld (Scholastic Paperbacks, 2011) — 520L
Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian by Margarita Engle (Henry Holt and Co)
Egg to Chicken (Follow the Life Cycle) by Rachel Tonkin (Crabtree Classics) — 510L
Assessment Text: “And the Bullfrogs Sing: A Life Cycle Begins” by David Harrison and illustrated by Kate Cosgrove (Holiday House)
INDEPENDENT READING RESOURCES
Birds
Chickens (Life Cycles) by Julie Lundgren
Robins (First Step Nonfiction) by Robin Nelson
The Life Cycle of a Duck (How Things Grow) by Andrew Hipp
Where do Chicks Come From? by Amy E. Sklansky
Butterflies
A Butterfly's Life by Dona Herweck Rice
A Butterfly's Life Cycle by Mary R. Dunn
Hello, Little One: A Monarch Butterfly Story by Zeena Pliska
National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly by Laura Marsh
The Amazing Life Cycle of Butterflies (Look and Wonder) by Kay Barnham
Frogs
A Frog's Life by Dona Herweck Rice
A Frog's Life Cycle (Explore Life Cycles) by Mary R. Dunn
And the Bullfrogs Sing: A Life Cycle Begins by David L. Harrison, Kate Cosgrove
National Geographic Readers: Tadpole to Frog by Shira Evans
Plants
A Sunflower's Life Cycle (Explore Life Cycles) by Mary R. Dunn
From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
Life Cycles: Tomatoes (First Step Nonfiction) by Robin Nelson
National Geographic Readers: Seed to Plant by Kristin Baird Rattini
Plant Life Cycles (My Science Library) by Julie Lundgren
Plant Life Cycles (True Book: Incredible Plants!) by Mara Grunbaum
The Amazing Life Cycle of Plants (Look and Wonder) by Kay Barnham
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Glossary (Teacher Edition)
ASSESSMENTS
LESSONS
Lesson 1 Lesson 1 Target Task Handout
Lesson 2 Lesson 2 Target Task Handout
Lesson 3 Lesson 3 Target Task Handout
Lesson 4 Lesson 4 Target Task Handout
Lesson 5 Lesson 5 Target Task Handout
Lesson 6 Lesson 6 Target Task Handout
Lesson 7 Lesson 7 Target Task Handout
Lesson 8 Lesson 8 Target Task Handout
Lesson 9 Lesson 9 Target Task Handout
Lesson 10 Lesson 10 Target Task Handout
Lesson 11 Lesson 11 Target Task Handout
Lesson 12 Lesson 12 Target Task Handout
Lesson 13 Lesson 13 Target Task Handout
Lesson 14 Lesson 14 Target Task Handout
Lesson 15 Lesson 15 Target Task Handout
Lesson 16 Lesson 16 Target Task Handout
Lesson 17 Lesson 17 Target Task Handout
Lesson 18 Lesson 18 Target Task Handout
Lesson 19 Lesson 19 Target Task Handout
Lesson 20 Lesson 20 Target Task Handout
Lesson 21 Lesson 21 Target Task Handout
Unit 7: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
CORE TEXTS
What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting Our Planet by Jess French (DK Children, 2019) — IG920L
The Last Straw: Kids vs. Plastics by Susan Hood (HarperCollins; Illustrated edition, 2021)
Recycle! A Handbook for Kids by Gail Gibbons (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition, 1996) — AD840L
The Three R’s: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle by Nuria Roca (Barron's Educational Series, 2007) — AD1030L
One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul (Millbrook Press, 2015) — 570L
Rainbow Weaver/Tejedora del Arcoiris by Linda Elovitz Marshall (Children’s Book Press; Bilingual edition, 2016) — AD580L
Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood by Tony Hillery (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books; Illustrated edition, 2020) — AD540L
Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals (Tricycle Press; Illustrated edition, 2010) — AD650L
INDEPENDENT READING RESOURCES
A Planet Full of Plastic by Neal Layton
Earth Ninja: A Children's Book About Recycling, Reducing and Reusing by Mary Nhin
I can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle by Alison Inches
Sip the Straw by Sam Keck Scott
The Adventures of Myrtle the Turtle: Teaching Kids about Ocean Plastic Pollution and Recycling by Julie Jakeman
What is Plastic Pollution? by Ian Olio
Where Do Garbage Trucks Go?: And Other Questions about Trash and Recycling by Ben Richmond
Why Should I Recycle? by Jen Green
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Glossary (Teacher Edition)
ASSESSMENTS
LESSONS
Lesson 1 Lesson 1 Target Task Handout
Lesson 2 Lesson 2 Target Task Handout
Lesson 3 Lesson 3 Target Task Handout
Lesson 4 Lesson 4 Target Task Handout
Lesson 5 Lesson 5 Target Task Handout
Lesson 6 Lesson 6 Target Task Handout
Lesson 7 Lesson 7 Target Task Handout
Lesson 8 Lesson 8 Target Task Handout
Lesson 9 Lesson 9 Target Task Handout
Lesson 10 Lesson 10 Target Task Handout
Lesson 11 Lesson 11 Target Task Handout
Lesson 12 Lesson 12 Target Task Handout
Lesson 13 Lesson 13 Target Task Handout
Lesson 14 Lesson 14 Target Task Handout
Lesson 15 Lesson 15 Target Task Handout
Lesson 16 Lesson 16 Target Task Handout
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