Online Elementary School
Kindergarten Curriculum
Enrolling your child for kindergarten is the first step toward laying their educational foundation. Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach that conventionally includes activities such as playing, singing, drawing, and practical activities that help nurture social skills.
Kindergarten Online Elementary Courses:
In addition to academic learning, children are taught to develop skills that will enable them to grow stronger and prepare them for higher grades. Subjects that are taught as part of Kindergarten curriculum include Math, Science, English and Social Studies.
Forest Trail Academy offers the hallmark of truly effective traditional education programs.
Does Your Child Need Help Coping?
Do you think your child has special needs? Does your child have a hard time keeping up with the rest of the children?
If yes, then we can help you. Forest Trail Academy provides a Prescriptive/Adaptive program that helps students with special needs cope with their peers. It has been designed as a self-paced learning system that focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of each individual child. Adhering to standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act, this system has been designed to improve student performance.
By allowing them to set the pace of learning, children are encouraged to explore their curriculum in a more comprehensive manner. This helps foster a learning process that is more holistic in nature as opposed to learning for the sole purpose of achieving a particular grade.
Quick answer: A homeschool kindergarten curriculum covers reading readiness and phonics, early math, science, social studies, handwriting and art. By the end of the year, a child should know the letters and their sounds, read simple words, count to 100 and write numbers to 20, add and subtract small numbers, and print many letters. Whether your child must attend kindergarten depends on your state.
What a homeschool kindergarten curriculum covers
Most kindergarten homeschool programs and kindergarten curriculum guides cover the same short list of subjects. Reading, writing and math get the most attention. Science, social studies and art fit in around them.
- Reading readiness and phonics. Letter names and sounds, rhyming, blending sounds into words, and a first set of words known by sight.
- Early math. Counting, comparing groups, shapes, and adding and subtracting with objects.
- Handwriting and early writing. Printing letters, writing a child’s own name, and spelling simple words by sound.
- Science. Observing weather, plants, animals and how things move.
- Social studies. Families and communities, rules and why we have them, and simple maps.
- Art and music. Drawing, painting, building with clay and singing.
Kindergarten also builds habits: sitting for a short lesson, taking turns, following directions and finishing a small task. A good curriculum plans for those skills as well as the academic ones.
What a kindergartner should know by the end of the year
Parents often ask for a clear target. The checklist below takes its skills from public standards: the Common Core State Standards for English and math, the Next Generation Science Standards, the C3 Framework for social studies and the National Core Arts Standards. Each state sets its own kindergarten standards and may word them differently, so compare this checklist with your state department of education’s list.
End-of-kindergarten skills checklist
| Subject | Skills to check off | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and phonics | Names all upper and lowercase letters. Gives the main sound for each consonant and the short and long sounds of the vowels. Recognizes and makes rhymes. Hears the first, middle and last sound in a three-letter word. Reads common words by sight, such as the, to, you, my and are. Reads short beginner books with understanding. | Common Core RF.K.1, RF.K.2, RF.K.3, RF.K.4 |
| Handwriting and writing | Prints many upper and lowercase letters. Capitalizes the first word of a sentence and the word I. Spells simple words by sound. | Common Core L.K.1.a, L.K.2.a, L.K.2.d |
| Math | Counts to 100 by ones and by tens. Writes numbers from 0 to 20. Counts up to 20 objects to answer “how many?” Tells which of two groups has more, fewer or the same. Adds and subtracts within 10 using objects or drawings, and adds and subtracts within 5 with ease. Names and describes shapes. | Common Core K.CC.1, K.CC.3, K.CC.5, K.CC.6, K.OA.2, K.OA.5, K.G |
| Science | Uses observations to describe what plants and animals need to live. Describes weather patterns over time. Compares how pushes and pulls change the way an object moves. | NGSS K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-1, K-PS2-1 |
| Social studies | Explains why rules exist at home, at school and in the community. Draws a simple map of a familiar place. | C3 Framework D2.Civ.3.K-2, D2.Geo.1.K-2 |
| Art | Explores and plays with art materials such as paper, crayons, paint and clay. | National Core Arts Standards VA:Cr1.1.Ka |
| Social skills | Shares, takes turns, follows directions and works through a short task. | Set by your curriculum or state |
Treat the list as a guide, not a test. Children arrive at kindergarten at different points and reach each skill at different times. If a skill is still forming in June, carry it into the next stretch of lessons.
What a kindergarten school day at home looks like
Kindergarten at home is short, active and mostly hands-on. A few hours of focused work is a common total, broken into blocks of 10 to 20 minutes with movement, play and reading aloud between them. Your role is to sit nearby, guide the lesson, read with your child and keep the routine steady.
The sample below shows one way to arrange the day for a family that uses an online program. It is an example, not a required schedule, and the times are easy to move.
Sample daily schedule
| Time | Block | On screen? | What the parent does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 | Morning routine, calendar and weather check | No | Leads the talk and records the weather |
| 9:00 | Reading and phonics lesson | Yes | Sits beside the child and repeats sounds together |
| 9:30 | Handwriting practice | No | Checks letter shapes and pencil grip |
| 9:50 | Movement break and snack | No | Joins in |
| 10:15 | Math lesson | Yes | Sets out counters, blocks or coins for hands-on practice |
| 10:45 | Science or social studies activity | Sometimes | Takes a nature walk, draws a map or runs a small experiment |
| 11:15 | Art, music or play | No | Provides materials and talks about the work |
| 11:45 | Read-aloud | No | Reads picture books and asks questions about the story |
In this example, two lessons use a screen and the rest of the morning does not. Your own mix may differ. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a Family Media Use Plan to help you set limits that suit your child.
Kindergarten entry age and whether kindergarten is required
Two separate rules apply, and both vary by state.
- Is kindergarten required? According to the Education Commission of the States (ECS), 17 states and the District of Columbia require children to attend kindergarten. In the other states, kindergarten is optional, and districts in 46 states and D.C. must offer at least half-day kindergarten.
- When does compulsory school age begin? This is the age at which a state’s attendance law applies to a child. A federal table based on ECS data shows that most states set it at 6 or 7, some at 5, and two at 8 (NCES, 2017 data). Several states have changed their laws since then, so confirm your state’s current age.
- What is the kindergarten entry age? Public schools in most states use a birthday cutoff, such as turning 5 by a set date in the fall. The cutoff decides when a child may enter public school kindergarten. Families who homeschool usually follow the state’s compulsory age instead, but confirm that in your state.
The ECS publishes a 50-state comparison of free and compulsory school age requirements that is updated by year.
How to check your state
- Search your state department of education’s website for “compulsory attendance age” and “kindergarten entrance age.”
- Read your state’s homeschool rules for children who reach that age. The Home School Legal Defense Association keeps a page for each state, and our guide to homeschool requirements by state covers the main points.
- If your child is under the compulsory age, ask whether any notice or record is required before you begin. In many states there is none, but keeping simple records still helps if you later enroll in a school.
How Forest Trail Academy’s kindergarten program works
Forest Trail Academy offers kindergarten as the first grade of its online elementary school (K-5). The next grade is on the grade 1 page.
- The core courses are English, Math, Science and Social Studies, and each has its own course page.
- The program also makes room for play, singing, drawing and social skills.
- Learning is self-paced, so a child can spend more time on one skill and move ahead in another.
- A Prescriptive/Adaptive program, built around each child’s strengths and areas to build, is available for children who need extra support.
- Forest Trail Academy is accredited, has certified teachers and accepts enrollment any week of the year.
Current prices are on the tuition and payment plans page. Families who want to compare parent-led teaching with an accredited program can read about Forest Trail Academy’s homeschool programs, or review our guide on how to start homeschooling.
Frequently asked questions
What should a child know at the end of kindergarten?
A child should know the letters and their sounds, read simple words, count to 100 by ones and tens, write numbers to 20, add and subtract within 10 with objects, name common shapes and print many letters. The checklist above lists each skill with its standard.
What should I teach first in homeschool kindergarten?
Start with routines, letter sounds and counting. Add handwriting, shapes and read-alouds once the routine feels steady. Science, social studies and art can follow in short sessions.
How many hours a day is homeschool kindergarten?
Focused work is often a few hours, broken into short blocks with play and movement between them. If your state sets required instruction time for children of compulsory age, follow that figure.
Is kindergarten required?
In 17 states and D.C., yes. In the rest, no. Check your state’s rule using the steps above.
Can my child start kindergarten at home before the public school cutoff age?
Yes, in most places a parent can teach at home before a child reaches compulsory age. Public school cutoff dates apply to public school enrollment. Confirm with your state’s rules.
Does an online kindergarten curriculum need a lot of screen time?
Not necessarily. Many families pair short online lessons with hands-on work such as counting objects, printing letters and reading aloud. You choose the mix that suits your child.
If you would like to talk through kindergarten for your child, Book a call with admissions.
Which curriculum is best for kindergarten?
The best kindergarten curriculum nurtures both academic and social-emotional development. At Forest Trail Academy, our online kindergarten curriculum includes core subjects like Math, Science, English, and Social Studies, while also encouraging essential life skills through engaging activities like reading, drawing, and interactive play. This balanced approach lays a strong educational foundation for young learners.
What should a kid know at the end of kindergarten?
By the end of kindergarten, children should be able to recognize letters and sounds, read simple words, count to at least 20, identify shapes and colors, understand basic scientific concepts, and develop early writing skills. Equally important are social skills such as sharing, taking turns, and following directions—all of which are part of our holistic learning model at Forest Trail Academy.
What is the most effective teaching method in kindergarten?
The most effective kindergarten teaching method is one that is child-centered, interactive, and adaptable. At Forest Trail Academy, we use a prescriptive/adaptive approach that supports self-paced learning. This method helps children progress at their own speed while targeting their individual strengths and areas for improvement, making learning more engaging and meaningful.
How many subjects are there in kindergarten?
Typically, kindergarten includes four core academic subjects: English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. At Forest Trail Academy, our curriculum ensures each of these subjects is covered with age-appropriate lessons that combine educational content with fun, interactive experiences.
What to teach first in kindergarten?
In the early days of kindergarten, it’s important to focus on routines, social skills, and basic literacy and numeracy. At Forest Trail Academy, we begin with foundational concepts in reading, counting, shapes, and phonics, while also encouraging communication, cooperation, and creativity through guided activities.
For any communication you are welcome to contact our Education Counselor, who will assist you in resolving your queries, enrollment process. You can also call us at 800.890.6269 / 561.537.5501.
