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Learning Standards Standards

What does a student learn in ?

This is the year the world outside the front door starts to make sense. Students learn how their family, school, and neighborhood fit together, and they meet the people who keep things running, like teachers, principals, and firefighters. They sort wants from needs, talk about jobs and saving money, and start using a calendar to track holidays and birthdays. By spring, students can give their home address, point out the American and Tennessee flags, and explain why we celebrate days like Thanksgiving and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

  • Family and community
  • Wants and needs
  • Jobs and money
  • Maps and address
  • Rules and leaders
  • Calendar and holidays
  • American symbols
Source: Tennessee Tennessee Academic Standards
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
  1. 1

    Me, my family, and school

    Students start the year close to home. They describe the people and places they see every day and compare family traditions like food, clothes, and games with classmates.

  2. 2

    Days, weeks, and the calendar

    Students learn to talk about time using words like yesterday, today, and tomorrow. They name the days of the week and months of the year and find birthdays and holidays on a calendar.

  3. 3

    Where things are

    Students use words like near, far, left, and right to say where something is. They learn what a map shows and practice saying their own address, city, and state.

  4. 4

    Wants, needs, and jobs

    Students sort wants from needs and talk about food, clothes, shelter, and getting around. They see how people earn money, save it, and do different jobs at home, at school, and around town.

  5. 5

    Rules, leaders, and symbols

    Students learn why rules matter and who the helpers are, from caregivers and teachers to police and firefighters. They recognize the American and Tennessee flags, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the current President.

  6. 6

    Holidays we share

    Students learn the stories behind holidays like Thanksgiving, Independence Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, and Veterans Day, and why families and communities mark them.

Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Kindergarten.
Culture: Students will explore different traditions, customs, and cultures within their families, schools, and communities.

  • Describe familiar people, places, things

    K.01

    Students name the people, places, and events that are part of their daily life at home, school, and in their neighborhood.

  • Compare and contrast family traditions and customs, including food, clothing…

    K.02

    Students look at how families are alike and different by comparing things like the foods they eat, the clothes they wear, and the games they play at home.

Economics: Students will identify basic wants and needs, the ways families produce, consume, and exchange goods and services in their communities, and the work people do in order to spend or save money.

  • Distinguish between wants and needs

    K.03

    Students sort everyday things into two groups: things they must have to survive (like food and shelter) and things they simply want. This builds the habit of asking "do I need this or just want it?"

  • Identify and explain how basic human needs of food, clothing, shelter

    K.04

    Students sort everyday needs like food, clothes, a home, and a way to get around, then explain how people meet each one.

  • Give examples of how people use money to make purchases

    K.05

    Students practice naming things people buy with money, like food at a store or a toy. They learn that money is what we trade to get the things we want or need.

  • Explain the connection between saving money and meeting future needs

    K.06

    Students learn why saving money now means being able to buy something important later. A piggy bank or savings jar is a good example of this idea in action.

  • Recognize and describe different types of jobs, including work done in the…

    K.07

    Students name different kinds of jobs, from a parent cooking dinner to a teacher grading papers to a firefighter on call. The work people do happens at home, at school, and all around the neighborhood.

Geography: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the concept of location, what a map represents, and their geographical location.

  • Use the language of location

    K.08

    Students use words like near, far, left, right, and behind to describe where things are in the classroom and on a map.

  • Define what a map represents

    K.09

    A map is a drawing that shows what a real place looks like from above. Students learn that a map stands in for the real world, with symbols and shapes representing streets, buildings, or land.

  • Recall the student’s and/or school’s street address, city/town

    K.10

    Students practice memorizing where they live and where their school is, including the street address, city, and state.

Government and Civics: Students will learn the foundations of good citizenship, including civic responsibilities and patriotism through the rules by which they live, the authority figures within their community and the United States, and state and national symbols.

  • Identify the following state and national symbols

    K.11

    Students learn to recognize the American flag and the Tennessee flag, and they practice saying the words of the Pledge of Allegiance.

  • Recognize the name, image

    K.12

    Students learn who the President of the United States is right now, what the President looks like, and what that job involves.

  • Describe roles of authority figures in the home, school

    K.13

    Students learn who is in charge at home, at school, and in the neighborhood. They can name what each person does, from a parent setting rules at home to a firefighter keeping the block safe.

  • Explain how rules and laws provide guidance for authority, fairness

    K.14

    Rules tell people what is allowed and what is not. Students learn why rules matter at school, at home, and in communities, and how following them keeps things fair and safe for everyone.

History: Students will understand the chronological organization of history and the importance of holidays.

  • Use correct words and phrases related to chronology and time, including

    K.15

    Students learn words like yesterday, today, tomorrow, before, and after to talk about when things happen and put events in order.

  • Now

    K.15.1

    Students learn words for when things happen. "Now" means this moment, right as it is occurring.

  • Later

    K.15.2

    "Later" means after something else happens. Students practice putting events in order by deciding what comes first, next, and after that, building the habit of thinking about time as a sequence.

  • Long ago

    K.15.3

    Students practice words for time by learning what "long ago" means. They use it to talk about events that happened before they were born, like how grandparents lived when they were young.

  • Before

    K.15.4

    "Before" means something happened earlier. Students use words like "before" to put events in order, such as explaining that they woke up before they ate breakfast.

  • After

    K.15.5

    Students learn that "after" means something comes later in time. They practice putting events in order, like naming what happens after lunch or after school.

  • Morning

    K.15.6

    Students learn that morning is the first part of the day, before lunch. They practice using the word correctly when talking about daily routines and the order of events.

  • Afternoon

    K.15.7

    "Afternoon" means the part of the day after noon and before evening. Students learn to place afternoon in order alongside morning and night, building a basic sense of how a day moves from start to finish.

  • Night

    K.15.8

    Students learn to use the word "night" correctly when talking about time, understanding it as the dark part of the day after the sun goes down.

  • Today

    K.15.9

    Students learn the word "today" and use it to talk about what is happening right now, as opposed to yesterday or tomorrow.

  • Tomorrow

    K.15.10

    "Tomorrow" means the day that comes after today. Students practice using time words like yesterday, today, and tomorrow to talk about when things happen.

  • Yesterday

    K.15.11

    Students practice the word "yesterday" to describe something that happened the day before today, like what they had for breakfast or did at school.

  • Last

    K.15.12

    Students learn that "last" means the one that comes at the end of a sequence, like the final day of the week or the last person in a line.

  • Next

    K.15.13

    Students learn that "next" means what comes right after something else, like the next day on the calendar or what happens next in a story.

  • Week

    K.15.14

    Students learn that a week is seven days long and practice naming those days in order, from Sunday through Saturday.

  • Month

    K.15.15

    Students learn the names of the twelve months and use them to talk about when things happen across the year, like birthdays, seasons, and holidays.

  • Year

    K.15.16

    Students learn that a year is a full cycle of twelve months, from January through December. They use the word "year" to describe how long ago something happened or how much time is left until a holiday or event.

  • Name the days of the week and months of the year

    K.16

    Students learn the seven days of the week and all twelve months of the year in order, by name. This is the foundation for reading a calendar and understanding when events happen.

  • Locate and describe events on a calendar, including birthdays, holidays…

    K.17

    Students find dates on a calendar and explain what happens on those days, like a birthday, a school holiday, or a class event.

  • Identify the following holidays

    K.18

    Students learn what holidays like Thanksgiving, Independence Day, and Veterans Day are and why we celebrate them. Each holiday connects to a real event or group of people worth remembering.

  • Martin Luther King, Jr

    K.18.1

    Students learn who Martin Luther King, Jr. was and why the country sets aside a day to honor him. They practice explaining, in their own words, what he worked for and why that work still matters.

  • Presidents’ Day

    K.18.2

    Students learn who Presidents' Day honors and why the country sets aside a day to remember past presidents.

  • Juneteenth

    K.18.3

    Students learn what Juneteenth is and why it matters. They find out that on June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Texas learned they were free, and that Americans celebrate this day to honor that moment and the people it changed.

  • Independence Day/July 4th

    K.18.4

    Students learn what Independence Day is and why the United States celebrates it on July 4th. They talk about what the holiday means and why Americans mark it each year.

  • Labor Day

    K.18.5

    Students learn what Labor Day is and why Americans celebrate it each fall. The holiday honors the people who do the work that keeps communities running, from farmers and builders to teachers and nurses.

  • Thanksgiving

    K.18.6

    Students learn what Thanksgiving is and why Americans celebrate it each fall. They talk about the harvest, the Pilgrims, and the tradition of giving thanks.

  • Veterans Day

    K.18.7

    Students learn what Veterans Day is and why the country observes it. They talk about who veterans are and what it means to honor people who served in the military.

Common Questions
  • What does kindergarten social studies actually cover?

    Five big areas: family and community life, money and jobs, maps and where students live, rules and leaders, and the calendar and holidays. Most of it connects to things students already see at home and school. The point is to give simple words for the world around them.

  • How can I help with this at home?

    Talk through everyday moments. Point out the calendar on the fridge, name the days until a birthday, and ask whether a toy at the store is a want or a need. Walks and car rides are good times to use words like near, far, left, and right.

  • Should students memorize their address by the end of the year?

    Yes. Students should know their street address, city or town, and state, plus the school name. Practice it in the car or at bedtime, a few words at a time. It also helps them learn what a map shows and where they fit on it.

  • How much should students know about money at this age?

    Just the basics. Students should understand that people use money to buy things, that some things are needs and some are wants, and that saving means keeping money for later. Letting students hand cash to a cashier or drop coins in a jar covers most of it.

  • How should the year be sequenced?

    Most teachers start with self, family, and school in the first weeks, then move into rules, jobs, and community helpers. Geography and money fit well in the middle of the year. Holidays and time words run all year long, anchored to the classroom calendar.

  • Which holidays do students need to know?

    Seven: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Veterans Day. Students should know roughly when each one happens and a simple reason for it. A short calendar conversation when each one comes up is usually enough.

  • What time and calendar words trip students up most?

    Yesterday, tomorrow, last, and next are the usual sticking points, along with telling morning from afternoon. A daily calendar routine and a visible weekly schedule fix most of it by winter. Months of the year often need a song or chant to stick.

  • How do I know students are ready for first grade?

    By spring, students should name family members and community helpers, tell wants from needs, point to their state on a map, say their address, recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and use the days of the week and months in order. Holiday names and reasons should sound familiar, not new.

  • What if my child gets the President or symbols mixed up?

    That is normal in kindergarten. Keep it light: point out the American and Tennessee flags when you see them, say the Pledge together once in a while, and mention the President's name when it comes up in the news. Repetition over months works better than drilling.