K–8 Core Knowledge Sequence Details

The Core Knowledge Sequence provides content and skill guidelines for all core content areas, recommending coherent, cumulative, and content-specific topics to be taught at each grade level, from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Content

The Sequence details specific content, including recommended works of literature, art, and historical texts to be addressed.

Language Arts

In addition to the poetry and literature titles recommended in the Sequence, nonfiction read-alouds and readings which draw from grade-appropriate history and science topics of the Sequence should be integrated during the language arts block.

American and World History

In World and American History, students learn stories of major events and figures from prehistory to modern times.  The Core Knowledge content builds year upon year to help children gain a greater understanding of the development of human civilizations, world cultures, the formation of the United States, and priciples of American democracy.

Visual Arts

In Visual Arts, students learn about the elements of art, sculpture, portraits, still lifes, landscapes, photography, architecture, expression and abstraction, art from ancient times, the Renaissance, and Impressionism, Post Impressionism, and 20th century sculpture. They are exposed to Islamic art and architecture, African art, Chinese art, Japanese art, and American art (including early American art, nineteenth-century art, and modern American painting).

Music

In Music, students are exposed to a wide array of music from jazz to orchestral music, as well as vocal music, that includes spirituals and songs from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic periods. They learn about composers and their music, the elements of music, and vocal ranges.

Science

In Science, students learn about living things and their environments, the human body, cycles in nature, ecology, geology, meteorology, magnetism, simple machines, light and optics, sound, matter, electricity, chemistry, and physics. Biographies of individuals who have made important contributions in the field of science are also included at each grade level.

Skills

The Sequence addresses skills-based topics in language arts (decoding, handwriting, spelling, and written compositon), geography (spatial sense), and math (an essentially skill-based subject).

Cross-Curricular Connections

Whenever appropriate, it is recommended that related topics in literature, history, science, music, and art be covered together, so that students can create connections and see the rich and varied perspectives provided by each discipline.