Horizontal Curriculum Mapping
English Language Arts Common Core Standards
Kindergarten
Weeks/
Dates/
Unit
Concept
(Big Ideas)
1
Aug.8Sept.28
Character,
setting
Focus Standards
Including Standard
Type (K), (R), (S), (P)
Literature: (K), RL.K.3.
I can identify characters,
settings and major events in
a story with prompting and
support.
Storybooks, poems
I can recognize storybooks,
poems, etc.
common types of texts (e.g.,
storybooks, poems).
Informational: (K), RI.K.4.
With prompting and support,
ask and answer questions
about unknown words in a
text.
Front cover,
back cover,
title
Author,
illustrator
(K), RI.K.5. Identify the front
cover, back cover, and title
page of a book.
(K), RI.K.6. Name the author
and illustrator of a text and
define the role of each in
presenting the ideas or
I Can Statements
Character, setting
With prompting and support,
identify characters, settings,
and major events in a story.
(K), RL.K.5. Recognize
Storybooks,
poems
Critical Vocabulary
I can ask and answer
questions about unknown
words in a text with
prompting and support.
Instructional
Resources/Selected
Readings
L.E.S. Unit 1 Scott
Foresman- All Together
Now
Encyclomedia- All About
ABC’s
Animal Alphabet, Animal
ABCs
Compass-LES
Success Maker-JPE, WHE
Dr. Jean CD’s
Front cover, back cover,
title
I can identify the front
cover, back cover and title
page of a book.
Author, illustrator
I can name the author and
illustrator of a text and tell
LeapFrog, Letter Factory
DVD, Code Word Capers,
Talking Word Factory,
Syllables,
sounds
Rhyming
Opinion
Collaborative
conversations
information in a text.
the role for each.
Foundational Skills: (K),
RF.K.2. Demonstrate
understanding of spoken
words, syllables, and sounds
(phonemes).
a.Recognize and produce
rhyming words.
b.Count, pronounce, blend,
and segment syllables in
spoken words.
c.Blend and segment onsets
and rimes of single-syllable
spoken words
Syllables, sounds
I can understand spoken
words, syllables, and sounds.
Rhyming
I can recognize and produce
a rhyming word.
Writing: (P), W.K.1. Use a
combination of drawing,
dictating, and writing to
compose opinion pieces in
which they tell a reader the
topic or the name of the book
they are writing about and
state an opinion or preference
about the topic or book (e.g.,
My favorite book is...).
Speaking & Listening: (K),
SL.K.1. Participate in
collaborative conversations
with diverse partners about
kindergarten topics and texts
with peers and adults in small
I can count, pronounce, blend
and segment syllables in
spoken words.
I can blend and segment
onsets and rimes of singlesyllable words.
Opinion
I can draw, dictate and/or
write a piece that tells the
reader the topic or name of
a book and give my opinion on
it.
I can participate in
conversations with others.
and larger groups.
I can follow rules for class
discussions (listening, taking
turns and speaking).
a. Follow agreed-upon rules
for discussions (e.g., listening
to others and taking turns
speaking about the topics and
texts under discussion).
Uppercase
and lowercase
letters
2
Oct. 1Nov. 9
Characters,
settings, and
major events
in a story
Language: (P), L.K.1.
Demonstrate command of the
conventions of standard
English grammar and usage
when writing or speaking.
a. Print many upper- and
lowercase letters.
Details
Uppercase and lowercase
letters
Literature: (K), RL.K.3.
With prompting and support,
identify characters, settings,
and major events in a story.
(K), RL.K.9. With prompting
Compare and contrast
I can name the author,
illustrator and tell the role
of each in the story with
prompting and support.
Details
I can compare and contrast
the adventures and
experiences of characters in
stories that are familiar with
prompting and support.
Main topic (idea)
I can ask and answer
questions about key details
and support, compare and
contrast the adventures and
experiences of characters in
familiar stories.
Informational: (K), RI.K.1.
With prompting and support,
ask and answer questions
about key details in a text.
I can print many upper and
lowercase letters.
I can identify characters,
settings and major events in
a story with prompting and
support.
(K), RL.K.6. With prompting
and support, name the author
and illustrator of a story and
define the role of each in
telling the story
Compare and
contrast
I can use English grammar
and use it when I speak and
write.
L.E.S. Unit 2 Scott
Foresman-Animals Live
Here
Main topic
(idea)
Describe
relationship
between
illustrations
and the text
Reading from
left to right,
top to
bottom, and
page by page
Spacing
between
words
Draw and
write to
sequence
events.
(K), RI.K.2. With prompting
with support and prompting.
and support, identify the main
topic and retell key details of a
text.
I can identify the main topic
and retell details with
prompting and support.
(K), RI.K.7. With prompting
and support, describe the
relationship between
illustrations and the text in
which they appear (e.g., what
person, place, thing, or idea in
the text an illustration depicts).
I can describe the
relationship between
illustrations and words with
prompting and support.
Foundational Skills: (K),
RF.K.1. Demonstrate
understanding of the
organization and basic
features of print.
I can use basic features of
print.
a. Follow words from left to
right, top to bottom, and page
by page.
b. Recognize that spoken
words are represented in
written language by specific
sequences of letters.
Left, right, top, bottom,
page
I can follow words from left
to right, top to bottom and
page by page.
I can use letters to make
words.
Spaces
c. Understand that words are
separated by spaces in print.
I can use spacing when I
write.
d. Recognize and name all
upper- and lowercase letters of
the alphabet.
I can recognize and name all
upper and lowercase letters.
Writing: (P), W.K.3. Use a
combination of drawing,
Narrative
Collaborative
conversations
Capitalization
and
punctuation
dictating, and writing to narrate
a single event or several
loosely linked events, tell
about the events in the order
in which they occurred, and
provide a reaction to what
happened.
I can draw, dictate and write
events in order.
Speaking & Listening: (K),
SL.K.1. Participate in
collaborative conversations
with diverse partners about
kindergarten topics and texts
with peers and adults in small
and larger groups.
b. Continue a conversation
through multiple exchanges.
I can have conversations
with other students and
adults.
Language: (S), L.K.2.
Demonstrate command of the
conventions of standard
English capitalization,
punctuation, and spelling when
writing.
a. Capitalize the first word in a
sentence and the pronoun I.
b. Recognize and name end
punctuation.
(S), L.K.5. With guidance
Capitalize
Punctuation, period,
question mark,
exclamation mark
I can use capital letters,
punctuation and spelling when
I write.
I can capitalize the first
word in a sentence and the
pronoun I.
I can use the correct
punctuation.
and support from adults,
explore word relationships and
nuances in word meanings.
a. Sort common objects into
categories (e.g., shapes,
foods) to gain a sense of the
concepts the categories
I can sort objects.
represent.
3
Nov.
12Dec. 19
Characters,
settings, and
major events
in a story.
Literature: (K), RL.K.3.
With prompting and support,
identify characters, settings,
and major events in a story.
(R), RL.K.4. Ask and answer
Voc. in text
questions about unknown
words in a text.
(K), RL.K.7. With prompting
Relationship
between
illustrations
and the story
Compare and
contrast the
adventures
and
experiences of
characters in
familiar
stories.
Main topic and
retell key
details of a
text.
Describe the
connection
between two
Characters, settings, and
major events in a story.
I can identify characters,
settings and major events.
I can ask and answer
questions about words I
don’t know.
and support, describe the
relationship between
illustrations and the story in
which they appear (e.g., what
moment in a story an
illustration depicts)
I can describe the
relationship between
illustrations and stories with
prompting and support.
(K), RL.K.9. With prompting
I can compare and contrast
adventures and experiences
of characters.
and support, compare and
contrast the adventures and
experiences of characters in
familiar stories.
Informational: (K), RI.K.2.
With prompting and support,
identify the main topic and
retell key details of a text.
(K), RI.K.3. With prompting
and support, describe the
connection between two
individuals, events, ideas, or
pieces of information in a text.
I can identify the main topic
and details.
I can tell the connection
between individuals, events,
ideas, or other information in
a story.
L.E.S. Unit 3 Scott
Foresman-Watch Me
Change
individuals,
events, ideas,
or pieces of
information in
a text
Understand
organization
and basic
features of
print.
Use a
combination of
drawing,
dictating, and
writing to
narrate a
single event or
several
loosely linked
events
Asking and
answering
questions
about key
Foundational Skills: (K),
RF.K.1. Demonstrate
understanding of the
organization and basic
features of print.
I can use basic features of
print.
a. Follow words from left to
right, top to bottom, and page
by page.
I can follow words from left
to right, top to bottom and
page by page.
b. Recognize that spoken
words are represented in
written language by specific
sequences of letters.
I can use letters to make
words.
c. Understand that words are
separated by spaces in print.
I can use spacing when I
write.
d. Recognize and name all
upper- and lowercase letters of
the alphabet.
I can recognize and name all
upper and lowercase letters.
Writing: (P), W.K.3. Use a
combination of drawing,
dictating, and writing to narrate
a single event or several
loosely linked events, tell
about the events in the order
in which they occurred, and
provide a reaction to what
happened.
Speaking & Listening: (K),
SL.K.2. Confirm understanding
of a text read aloud or
I can draw, dictate and write
events in order.
I can ask and answer
questions about information
that I don’t understand.
details
Ask and
answer
questions in
order to seek
help, get
information, or
clarify
Grammar and
usage when
writing or
speaking.
information presented orally or
through other media by asking
and answering questions
about key details and
requesting clarification if
something is not understood.
I can ask and answer
questions to get information.
(S), SL.K.3. Ask and answer
questions in order to seek
help, get information, or clarify
something that is not
understood. Presentation of
Knowledge and Ideas
Language: (S), L.K.1.
Demonstrate command of the
conventions of standard
English grammar and usage
when writing or speaking.
who, what, where, when,
why, how
I can use English grammar
when writing or speaking.
I can use question words.
d. Understand and use
question words (interrogatives)
(e.g., who, what, where, when,
why, how).
4
Jan. 2Feb. 15
Details in a
text
Literature: (K), RL.K.1.
With prompting and support,
ask and answer questions
about key details in a text.
I can ask and answer
questions.
(K), RL.K.2. With prompting
I can retell stories with
details.
and support, retell familiar
stories, including key details.
questions about key details in
a text
L.E.S. Unit 4 Scott
Foresman-Let’s Explore
Characters,
settings, and
major events
in a story.
(K), RL.K.3. With prompting
I can identify characters,
settings and events.
and support, identify
characters, settings, and major
events in a story.
Informational: (K), RI.K.1.
With prompting and support,
ask and answer questions
about key details in a text.
Syllables
Foundational Skills: (K),
RF.K.2. Demonstrate
understanding of spoken
words, syllables, and sounds
(phonemes).
a. Recognize and produce
rhyming words.
b. Count, pronounce, blend,
and segment syllables in
spoken words.
c. Blend and segment onsets
and rimes of single-syllable
spoken words.
Isolate and
pronounce the
initial, medial
vowel, and
final sounds
Add or
substitute
individual
sounds
d. Isolate and pronounce the
initial, medial vowel, and final
sounds (phonemes) in threephoneme (consonant-vowelconsonant, or CVC) words.1
(This does not include CVCs
ending with /l/, /r/, or /x/.)
I can ask and answer
questions about details.
Vowels
I can use words, syllables
and sounds.
I can recognize and use
rhyming words.
I can count, pronounce, blend
and segment syllables.
I can use blend and segment
rimes in single-syllable
words.
I can identify the sounds in
words.
e. Add or substitute individual
sounds (phonemes) in simple,
one-syllable words to make
new words.
I can add or change sounds in
one-syllable words to make
new words.
(K), RF.K.3. Know and apply
I can use phonics to decode
Use names to teach syllables.
Read common
highfrequency
words by sight
State an
opinion or
preference
about atopic
or book
grade-level phonics and word
analysis skills in decoding
words.
words.
a. Demonstrate basic
knowledge of letter-sound
correspondences by producing
the primary or most frequent
sound for each consonant.
I can use basic letter-sound
correspondences to produce
the most used sound for
each consonant.
c. Read common highfrequency words by sight (e.g.,
the, of, to, you, she, my, is,
are, do, does).
I can read high-frequency
words by sight.
d. Distinguish between
similarly spelled words by
identifying the sounds of the
letters that differ.
I can tell the difference
between similarly spelled
words by identifying the
sounds that are different.
Writing: (P), W.K.1. Use a
combination of drawing,
dictating, and writing to
compose opinion pieces in
which they tell a reader the
topic or the name of the book
they are writing about and
state an opinion or preference
about the topic or book (e.g.,
My favorite book is...).
(K), W.K.8. With guidance
and support from adults, recall
information from experiences
or gather information from
provided sources to answer a
question.
Speaking & Literature:
(P),
I can draw, dictate, and
write my opinion about a
book.
I can tell information about
my experiences or get
information from other
sources.
SL.K.4. Describe familiar
people, places, things, and
events and, with prompting
and support, provide additional
detail.
Prepositions
Produce and
expand
complete
sentences
Demonstrate
command of
the
conventions of
standard
English
grammar and
usage when
writing or
speaking
I can describe people, places,
things and events that I am
familiar with.
Language: (S), L.K.1.
Demonstrate command of the
conventions of standard
English grammar and usage
when writing or speaking.
I can use English grammar
and use it when I write and
speak.
e. Use the most frequently
occurring prepositions (e.g., to,
from, in, out, on, off, for, of, by,
with).
I can use words like: to,
from, in, out, on, off, for, of,
by, and with
f. Produce and expand
complete sentences in shared
language activities.
I can use complete sentences
in other language activities.
(S), L.K.2. Demonstrate
I can use capital letters,
punctuation and spelling when
I write.
command of the conventions
of standard English
capitalization, punctuation, and
spelling when writing.
c. Write a letter or letters for
most consonant and shortvowel sounds (phonemes).
I can write the letter or
letters for most consonant
and short-vowel sounds.
d. Spell simple words
phonetically, drawing on
knowledge of sound-letter
relationships.
I can spell simple words by
using phonics.
(S), L.K.5. With guidance
and support from adults,
I can use words with
explore word relationships and
nuances in word meanings.
b. Demonstrate understanding
of frequently occurring verbs
and adjectives by relating
them to their opposites
(antonyms).
c. Identify real-life connections
between words and their use
(e.g., note places at school
that are colorful).
Verbs and
adjectives
d. Distinguish shades of
meaning among verbs
describing the same general
action (e.g., walk, march, strut,
prance) by acting out the
meanings.
different meanings.
I can use opposites with
verbs and adjectives.
I can connect real-life
events with words and how to
use them.
I can tell the difference
between different verbs by
acting out their meanings.
5
Feb.18
Mar.29
Recognize
common types
of texts
Compare and
contrast
Identify basic
similarities in
and
differences
between two
texts on the
same topic
Literature: (K), RL.K.3.
With prompting and support,
identify characters, settings,
and major events in a story.
I can identify characters,
settings and main events.
(K), RL.K.5. Recognize
I can recognize different
types of stories.
common types of texts (e.g.,
storybooks, poems).
(K), RL.K.9. With prompting
and support, compare and
contrast the adventures and
experiences of characters in
familiar stories.
I can compare and contrast
adventures and experiences
of characters.
Informational: (K), RI.K.9.
With prompting and support,
identify basic similarities in and
differences between two texts
on the same topic (e.g., in
illustrations, descriptions, or
procedures).
I can identify things that are
similar and different.
(R), RI.K.10. Actively engage
Actively
engage in
group reading
activities with
purpose and
understanding
.
in group reading activities with
purpose and understanding.
I can participate in group
reading activities.
Foundational Skills: (K),
RF.K.4. Read emergentreader texts with purpose and
I can read emergentreaders.
L.E.S. Unit 5 Scott
Foresman-Going Places
Read
emergentreader texts
Participate in
shared
research and
writing
projects
understanding.
I can participate in shared
research and writing
projects.
Writing: (S), W.K.7.
Participate in shared research
and writing projects (e.g.,
explore a number of books by
a favorite author and express
opinions about them).
I can add drawings to
describe details.
Speaking & Listening: (P),
SL.K.5. Add drawings or other
visual displays to descriptions
as desired to provide
additional detail
Nouns and
verbs
Language: (S), L.K.1.
Demonstrate command of the
conventions of standard
English grammar and usage
when writing or speaking.
b.Use frequently occurring
nouns and verbs.
Nouns and verbs
I can use grammar to write
and speak.
I can use nouns and verbs.
c.Form regular plural nouns
orally by adding /s/ or /es/
(e.g., dog, dogs; wish, wishes).
I can make nouns plural by
adding /s/ or /es/.
(S), L.K.6. Use words and
I can use words and phrases.
phrases acquired through
conversations, reading and
being read to, and responding
to texts.
6
Apr.8May 20
Characters,
settings, and
major events
in a story.
Group reading
activities
Identify the
reasons an
author gives to
support points
in a text.
Literature: (K), RL.K.3.
With prompting and support,
identify characters, settings,
and major events in a story.
I can identify characters,
settings and events.
(K), RL.K.10. Actively
engage in group reading
activities with purpose and
understanding.
I can participate in group
reading.
(K), Informational: RI.K.8.
I can tell the reasons an
author gives details.
With prompting and support,
identify the reasons an author
gives to support points in a
text.
(K), RI.K.9. With prompting
and support, identify basic
similarities in and differences
between two texts on the
same topic (e.g., in
illustrations, descriptions, or
procedures).
Foundational Skills: (K),
RF.K.3. Know and apply
grade-level phonics and word
analysis skills in decoding
words.
Long and
short vowels
I can identify similarities
and differences.
b.Associate the long and short
sounds with the common
spellings (graphemes) for the
five major vowels.
RF.K.4. Read emergent-
Long and short vowels
I can use phonics and word
skills to decode.
I can use common spellings
for the long and short vowel
sounds.
L.E.S. Unit 6 Scott
Foresman-Building Our
Homes
reader texts with purpose and
understanding.
Use a
combination of
drawing,
dictating, and
writing to
compose
informative/ex
planatory texts
Writing: (P), W.K.2. Use a
combination of drawing,
dictating, and writing to
compose
informative/explanatory texts
in which they name what they
are writing about and supply
some information about the
topic.
(R), W.K.5. With guidance
and support from adults,
respond to questions and
suggestions from peers and
add details to strengthen
writing as needed.
Explore a
variety of
digital tools to
produce and
publish
writing,
I can read emergentreaders.
I can draw, dictate and write
to tell about an event or
events in order which they
occurred and give a reaction.
I can answer questions from
other students in my class
and add details to my writing.
(K), W.K.6. With guidance
and support from adults,
explore a variety of digital tools
to produce and publish writing,
including in collaboration with
peers.
Speaking & Listening: (K),
SL.K.6. Speak audibly and
express thoughts, feelings,
and ideas clearly.


I can, as a whole group,
produce a writing piece on
the computer and/or show
my work with the document
camera.
I can speak clearly to tell my
thoughts, feelings and ideas.
Use document
camera to show
student’s work.
Teacher could
produce whole group
writing piece on the
computer.
Multiplemeaning
words
New
meanings for
familiar words
Language: (R), L.K.4.
Determine or clarify the
meaning of unknown and
multiple-meaning words and
phrases based on
kindergarten reading and
content.
a.Identify new meanings for
familiar words and apply them
accurately (e.g., knowing duck
is a bird and learning the verb
to duck).
b.Use the most frequently
occurring inflections and
affixes (e.g., -ed, -s, re-, un-,
pre-, -ful, -less) as a clue to
the meaning of an unknown
word.
I can explain the meaning of
words and phrases that I
don’t know based on my
reading and KG content.
I can identify meanings for
words I know and use them
correctly.
I can use clues to identify
the meaning of words I do
not know.