
What Kindergartners Should Know: The Ultimate Checklist
Updated: Sep 30, 2021
Have you been searching for a checklist on what Kindergartners should know by the end of the school-year? Do you want to make sure you have covered the essentials and that you haven’t forgotten anything? These wonderings may cause worry, stress, and panicked, late-night scrolling of the internet looking for confirmation and clarity around the skills that kindergartners are learning.
If you are worried that maybe you aren’t teaching enough to your child at home and you are searching for a clear and concise answer to what needs to be covered in kindergarten, this post is for you.
We have the solution: The ultimate checklist of what kindergartners should know, which will save you time and alleviate your stress and anxieties around the question, "Am I doing enough!?"

Please be aware that there is an age range for when children develop these skills. Some children have mastered the content skills listed here before age 5 and for some it is not until age 7 - this range is normal and we are not suggesting that you are behind.
This list applies to children from ages 4 to 7. In terms of grade-level, this list identifies what kindergartners, in general, are expected to know and be able to do by the end of the school year.
For those families who have a little one beginning kindergarten you can use this list to guide you through your planning for the upcoming year!
We recommend using this list as a checklist. Check off the areas where your child is on track (give yourself a pat on the back) and identify areas for focused attention over the next few months. Also, it is not a race, so give yourself some grace and take the time you need to help your child meet these benchmarks.
This comprehensive list is based on extensive research into the expectations for kindergarten. We recognize that each state and even individual districts or schools might have varied expectations. If you are planning to send your child back to school in the fall, be sure to cross check this list with a list of skills from the district/school in which your child will be enrolled.
We also recognize that for families who are full-time homeschooling for years to come, this checklist might be something you use loosely, knowing that you can easily extend the learning of these skills into future years!
Read on for a complete, comprehensive list of everything typically covered in kindergarten - including all subjects (Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music), as well as fine and gross motor skills, readiness to learn and social-emotional skills.
You can also click below to receive this list as a printable PDF check-list for easy reference.
FREE printable PDF: What Kindergarteners Should Know - The Ultimate Checklist

Math
Number Sense, Spatial Reasoning, & Logic
Estimate - make a thoughtful guess about how many objects you see
Subitize - recognize how many are in a small set of objects without counting
Identify shapes within a shape (e.g., see there are 5 squares when you place 4 Magna-tile squares next to each other in the shape of a larger square)
Be able to identify and add on to simple patterns
Numbers & Counting
Count by 1’s and by 10’s to 100
One-to-one correspondence - knowing that each item gets one count
Cardinality - knowing the last count is the total number of objects in a set
Count up to 20 objects to answer “How many?”
Count-on from numbers other than 1
Count-down from any number 10 or less
Number recognition of numbers 0 to 20
Represent numbers 1 to 20 with objects or drawings
Write numbers 0 to 20
Use objects to show how to break up numbers less than or equal to 10 into different number pairs (e.g., 8 can be 7+1, 6+2, 5+3, 4+4)
Categorizing & Comparing
Compare objects based on measurable attributes (e.g. bigger, smaller; taller, shorter)
Put objects in two different categories, count how many are in each group, and compare; Compare sets of objects by lining them up
Compare numbers up to 20 using symbols (>, <, =), knowing which number is greater based on the number sequence
Addition & Subtraction
Understand addition (putting together) and subtraction (taking apart)
Solve addition problems up to a sum of 10
Solve subtraction problems that begin with 10 or less
Show, explain, or draw how you solved the addition and subtraction problems
Solve addition and subtraction word problems
Be able to write a plus, minus, and equal sign
Understand that the equal sign means “the same as”
Find number pairs that make each number 0 to 10
Commit to memory number pairs up to a sum of 5
Measurement & Geometry
Describe the position of shapes (e.g., above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to)
Point out the measurable attributes of an object (e.g., length, weight, size) and generally have a sense what these mean
Recognize that we can measure things like temperature and time
Identify two-dimensional shapes by name in everyday situations (square, rectangle, triangle, rhombus, trapezoid, hexagon)
Compare 2-D shapes by number of sides
Compare lengths of sides of 2-D shapes using descriptive words (i.e., longer, shorter, same size)
Compose a different shape from bringing together two 2-dimensional shapes
Identify shapes as 2-dimensional (“flat”) or 3-dimensional (“pops out at you”)
Identify three-dimensional shapes by name in everyday situations (cone, cylinder, sphere, cube)
Understand that size and position does not change the name of a shape
Money & Time
Count by 1’s for pennies and by 10’s for dimes to determine “How many cents?”
Identify the name of other coins and their values (e.g., nickel: 5 cents, quarter: 25 cents)
Read the numbers on a digital clock and understand that this tells us the time
Develop a general sense of time as measured in different units - seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years
Understand how the hands work on an analog clock to recognize time on the hour and half hour
Language Arts
Reading Comprehension
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text
Retell familiar stories
Identify characters, settings, and major events in a book
Name & explain the role of the author & illustrator
Recognize common types of texts such as story books or poems
Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a book.
Describe the relationship between illustrations in a book and the events in the story.
Compare and contrast the adventures and characters of one story with those in another story.
Participate in collaborative conversations
Follow agreed upon rules for discussions (e.g., listen to others, take turns, stay on topic)
Continue a conversation through multiple exchanges
Ask and answer questions in order to get help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood
Describe familiar people, places, things, and events
Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly
Reading Foundational Skills & Phonics
Follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page
Recognize that words are represented by a certain sequence of letters
Understand that words are separated by spaces in print
Recognize and name all upper and lowercase letters of the alphabet
Recognize and produce rhyming words
Count and segment syllables in spoken words
Identify the initial, middle, and final sounds of CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words
Blend sounds together to read written words
Read and write CVC words
Understand one-to-one letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary sound for each consonant
Identify consonants and vowels
Recognize the long and short vowel sounds and common spelling patterns: a_e, i_e, u_e, ee
Substitute letters in single-syllable words to make new words or change the meaning of words (e.g., hat/bat/cat)
Read common, high-frequency words by sight
Writing
Hold a pencil with pincer grip
Trace, copy, and print from memory the 26 letters of the alphabet in both upper and lowercase form
Write own name
Write from left to right, leaving spaces between words, and top to bottom
Begin using phonetic spelling for unknown spelling patterns
Form letters, words, and sentences to communicate thoughts and ideas
Use basic capitalization and punctuation
Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to to compose various types of writing (opinion, narrative, informational)
Add details to writing
Use and understand question words
Draw pictures to represent a text that has been heard or read independently
Science
Scientific Method
Ask a question
Design an experiment & make a hypothesis
Carry out an experiment
Make observations
Draw conclusions
The Earth - Energy, Weather, Seasons, & the Environment
Observe how sunlight affects the Earth’s surface (e.g., sand, rock, dirt)
Design and create a structure to reduce the warming of sunlight on an area
Observe and describe weather and weather patterns
Learn what severe weather is and how forecasting is used to predict severe weather
Identify the four seasons and weather patterns that happen during those seasons
Understand how humans negatively impact the environment
Describe possible ways that humans can reduce their negative impact on the environment
Living Things
Know the difference between living and non-living things
Observe and describe what living things need to survive
Compare how plants and animals differ in their needs to survive
Understand how the environments in which plants and animals live are related to their needs
Explain how animals interact with their environment to meet their needs (e.g., burrowing in the ground to hibernate)
Learn about how the human body works
Force and Motion
Plan and Investigate pushing and pulling an object with different directions and strengths
Analyze your design to see if the push or pull changed the speed or direction of the object
Engineering
Use drawings to design something to solve a problem
Create models that represent ways to use objects or simple tools to solve a problem
Explore how the shape of an object can function in solving a problem
Test out a model designed to solve a problem, evaluate how it worked, and refine
Social Studies
Civics
Show respect for others
Identify and follow class rules and expectations
Take turns and share
Take responsibility for classrooms chores
Take care of personal belongings and respect what belongs to others
Practice honesty, self-control and kindness to others
Participate in decision-making
Ask and answer questions to gain information about the national symbols, songs, and texts of the United States.
History
Describe and understand civic holidays
Compare and contrast traditions and celebrations of people with diverse cultural backgrounds
Put events from their own life and from stories in sequential and chronological order using phrases like first, next last and now, then, long ago, morning, night, today, yesterday, tomorrow, next week, last year
Understand time measurement, including day, weeks, and months
Identify cause and effect, using examples from their own life
Identify change over time in their own life
Identify events of the past, present, and future in their own life
Identify examples of historical events that describe the development of the local community and people who helped establish and lead the local community
Geography
Describe the location of people, places, and objects using words such as up, down, near, far, left, right, in front of, behind, next to
Explain similarities and differences between maps and globes
Identify elements of their physical address, including street name and number, town or city, state, and country
Use a state map to locate their town or city. Use a town or city map to locate their home.
Construct maps or drawings to show physical features of familiar places
Identify physical features such as land, water, and mountains
Identify basic map symbols in a map legend
Economics
Describe some things people do when the work inside and outside of the home
Give examples of goods and services that people purchase with money they earn
Ask and answer questions about buying and selling things and explain how people make choices about what they need and want
Match simple descriptions of work that people do with the names of those jobs
Identify examples of goods and services
Identify what money is and how it is used in society
Art
Engagement with Materials
Use standard and non-standard materials to create art
Know how to use art materials safely and appropriately
Create collages and sculptures using different types of materials
Use textured materials in artworks, such as collages and sculptures
Art Skills
Represent real-world and make-believe objects through art
Know the basic colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, black, white, gray, and pink)
Identify warm colors (e.g., red and orange) and cool colors (e.g., blue and green)
Recognize different types of lines and create these in pieces of artwork
Curved line examples: slide, waves in the water
Straight line examples: tree trunk of certain tree types, swing set
Curly line examples: curly hair, vines on a pumpkin plant
Zig-Zag line examples: mountainous terrain (e.g., on a map)
Explore what different types of lines can do in drawings, paintings, and sculptures (e.g., lines can be used to suggest motion or emotions)
Describe different textures using adjectives (e.g., smooth, rough, silky)
Artistic Expression
Share the process of your art creation and details about the artwork
Select artworks to display as a portfolio, and explain why these were chosen
Describe why artists display their work and where art is typically on display (e.g., art museums, art exhibits)
Music
Experience many different types (genres) of music
Communicate preferences for certain songs or types of music
Explain what you like or do not like about particular song selections
Identify differences in musical selections based on pitch (high/low), tempo (fast/slow), and dynamics (loud/soft)
Recognize how musical elements in a song (beat, pitch, tempo, dynamics) change how a song feels
Understand how music connects with real-world events and other art forms
Create musical expressions that have a purpose by making up a song, coming up with new words to a song, and/or using movements to align with the melody
Refine a new musical creation or version of a song, and perform a final version

Fine-Motor Skills
Grip a pencil properly
Print their full name (capital letter, followed by lowercase letters)
Lace shoes
Use scissors correctly
Copy triangles and other geometric shapes
Draw a person with a head, body, arms, and legs
Dress and undress themselves
Eat with a fork and spoon
Form upper and lowercase letters
Screw and unscrew nuts and bolts
String beads
Gross-Motor Skills
Skip
Swing and climb
Hop up to 10 feet without stopping
Walk on tiptoes
Stand on one foot for five seconds
Hop on one foot
Kick a ball with accuracy
Catch a ball bounced from five feet away
Readiness to Learn
Follow multi-step oral directions
Give simple directions
Provide simple explanations
Follows rules and routines
Uses materials purposefully and respectfully
Sustains attention on a single task for a period of time (15-20 minutes)
Shows eagerness and curiosity as a learner
Asks for help when needed
Participates in group activities

Social/Emotional Learning
Works, plays, and shares with others
Participates in group activities
Uses words to resolve conflicts
Uses words to express their emotions and feelings
Uses strategies to calm strong feelings
Respects the feelings and rights of others
Shows empathy and kindness to others
Develops multiple solutions to a problem
Washes hands properly
Potty trained
Sleeps 10-12 hours every night
Would you like access to a PDF version of this checklist for free? If yes, click below:
FREE printable PDF: What Kindergarteners Should Know - The Ultimate Checklist
Use this checklist of what kindergartners should know as a guide, to focus on what skills need more attention and identify the skills that your child has already mastered.
Katie Eichman, M.Ed.
Hollie Young, Ph.D.