The “sticky note” feature in the lower right hand corner of the daily sheets is a kindergarten curriculum addendum.  The year before I wrote the main Character curriculum, I developed a kindergarten curriculum based on themes found in the Creation story (Genesis 1 in the Bible).  I designed the new curriculum to work in tandem with the original kindergarten curriculum. 

For kindergarteners, here is what has worked for us:

The Family Book, character-related discussions, and the key verses for the day should include your kindergartener.   Your kindergartener can and should also be included in art and music discussions, as well as conversations about geography and culture.

History study, beyond what is introduced in the Family Books, should not be necessary for children this young.  The overview and topics included in the core should be more than sufficient.  If you wish, you can supplement with books about children’s lives, transportation, housing etc. changing over time.

Choose math, reading and writing/handwriting curricula for your kindergartener, just as you would for your older children, and schedule this daily work for your little one.  This will get him or her into the habit of doing their daily individual lessons, though of course you will find yourself working along with them for much of this rather than sending them off to complete it by themselves.  Individually, I have my kindergarteners work with Inchimals, cuisinaire rods, pattern blocks, letter tiles, matching games and other manipulatives to practice and reinforce math, logic, and letter skills.

Science and Bible are two areas where the young student and older siblings may cover different content.  The green heading at the top of the note is the kindergarten science theme for the week, and below it is a related verse (or portion of a verse) from John 1 or Genesis.  If you have only a kindergarten student, you may wish to use the weekly verse or portion of a verse in this note instead of the longer Bible passage to its left.  You may also choose to use this verse, or a portion of it, for copy work.

How you want to use the kindergarten theme is up to you.  In most cases, one or more Family Books, and often the weekly hymn, will relate to this theme.  You may wish to use additional books from your library to further investigate these topics.  Additionally, these themes lend themselves well to science discussions and projects, art projects and drawings, and additional activities.  Use your own judgement as to your child’s attention span, energy level, and interests. 

The academic priorities for this grade level are to learn to count and write the numbers, say and write the alphabet, spell the child’s own name, learn the days of the week, and speak in full sentences.  The child may progress into phonics and possibly learn to read.

Additional priorities are to develop physical skills, increase attention span, sit still for a period of time, follow along with picture books, follow directions, and learn to get along well with peers.

The following list contains suggested age-appropriate activities for each week.  These are deliberately open-ended, relate to ideas, themes and/or stories from the week, and can be enjoyed by your older children as well.

• Week 1: Do some digging.  Dissect an apple.
• Week 2: Use Lincoln Logs, Legos, or any other building material to build a house.
• Week 3: Weigh things.
• Week 4: Dip or pour beeswax candles.
• Week 5: Work on a time line.
• Week 6: Practice riding a bike.
• Week 7: Record the week’s weather on a chart.
• Week 8: In a group, create a pattern using pattern blocks.
• Week 9: Do something to encourage believers in North Korea (contact Voice of the Martyrs for ideas).
• Week 10: Build a model of a sod house.
• Week 11: Stack stones; Plant a seed; Help plan next year’s garden; Practice dividing things in half.
• Week 12: Make an annual calendar.
• Week 13: Plan for a trip to the Moon.
• Week 14: Plan for a trip to another planet.
• Week 15: Find a way to make Christmas more meaningful for someone else.
• Week 16: Think of someone you want to intercede for and practice praying for them.
• Week 17: Make a list of things you are thankful for.
• Week 18: Show someone your appreciation.
• Week 19: Visit a farm.
• Week 20: Draw a creepy-crawly thing of your own design.
• Week 21: Think of your favorite wild animal and pretend you have one as a pet.
• Week 22: My Body (Teacher Created Resources book): Trace your body and fill in the face and skeleton.
• Week 23: My Body: Add the muscles, skin and eyes.
• Week 24: My Body: Add the ears, tongue and nose.
• Week 25: My Body: Add the cells, spleen, heart, kidneys, bladder, pancreas and gall bladder.
• Week 26: My Body: Add the stomach, intestines and liver. 
• Week 27: My Body: Add the lungs and brain.  Learn to tie your shoelaces.
• Week 28: My Body: Add the reproductive organs.  Draw your family tree.  Make a safety poster.
• Week 29: Design a fire escape plan for your house.
• Week 30: Think of a way to make migrant children feel more at home.
• Week 31: Build an igloo.  If there is no snow, use something else.
• Week 32: Illustrate a food chain or food web.
• Week 33: Take a nap.
• Week 34: Learn to set a table “properly”.
• Week 35: Make a list of ways in which you think society is still segregated.
• Week 36: Find a way to help a refugee (contact World Relief for ideas).