Early Years

From their first days in Kindergarten, children build the foundations of literacy, listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and representing. Early learners begin with oral language, rhyme, letter sounds and concepts of print, sharing ideas through talk, drawing and beginning writing.

By Grade 4, they read increasingly rich stories and information texts, take part in structured discussions using evidence, and plan, draft and revise their own writing with growing independence and care for grammar and word choice. Language is woven across every subject, nurturing a genuine love of reading and storytelling.

Manitoba mathematics is built around four strands, number; patterns and relations; shape and space; and, from Grade 2, statistics and probability. In Kindergarten and the early grades, children develop strong number sense through hands-on, playful work: counting, comparing and estimating quantities, understanding place value, and learning to add, subtract and begin multiplying and dividing.

By Grade 4 they work confidently with larger whole numbers and fractions, recognize and extend patterns, explore early algebraic thinking through equality and simple equations, measure length, area, mass and time, sort 2-D shapes and 3-D objects, and collect and read simple data, with mental mathematics, estimation and problem solving at the centre of every lesson.

From Kindergarten, children explore the natural world through observation, questioning and hands-on investigation, learning about living things, materials, weather and the seasons.

They build the habits of curiosity and evidence-based thinking, and by Grade 4 they carry out simple experiments, record what they observe, and begin to explain how and why things happen.

Manitoba social studies blends history and geography around six enduring understandings, identity and community, the land, historical connections, global interdependence, power and authority, and economics. The early grades begin close to home, as children explore who they are in relation to others in Kindergarten, then connecting and belonging within their own community in Grade 1.

From there the circle widens, comparing communities across Canada, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, in Grade 2; studying communities of the world and an ancient society in Grade 3; and exploring the places, stories and geography of Manitoba, Canada and the North in Grade 4, nurturing a sense of belonging and caring, responsible citizenship.

Manitoba arts education spans four disciplines, visual arts, music, dance and drama, and organizes learning into four connected areas: Making, Creating, Connecting and Responding. In the Early Years, children build the language and practices for making art, line, colour, shape and texture, and use them to generate and share their own ideas.

They begin to connect art to different times, places and cultures, and to reflect on their own and others' work, developing imagination, fine-motor skills and a growing sense of identity and confidence as young artists.

Manitoba combines physical and health education into one program built around five general learning outcomes, movement, fitness management, safety, personal and social management, and healthy lifestyle practices. In the Early Years, children develop fundamental movement skills and coordination through active, joyful play, and begin to understand why physical activity keeps us well.

They learn to move and play safely, to cooperate, share and manage feelings with others, and to build healthy habits around nutrition, personal health and active living, growing in confidence, fitness and character.