Grades

English Language Arts:
Preschoolers will begin engaging in conversations by learning to listen to others, take turns, and follow simple directions. They will also develop early reading skills, such as recognizing letters and the relationship between sounds and letters.

Fine Arts:
Preschoolers will explore their creativity through drama, dance, music, and visual arts. They will engage in dramatic play, express themselves through movement and music, create visual art using various tools and materials, and develop an appreciation for different art forms and cultural expressions.

Health Education:
Preschoolers recognize and express basic emotions, identify trusted adults, and discuss why eating a variety of foods is important for creating a healthy body.

Mathematics:
Preschoolers practice counting to ten, recognizing the sequence of numbers, and identifying numerals from 0 to 5. They also explore simple patterns, compare objects by size and shape, and describe basic shapes.

Physical Education:
Preschoolers develop gross motor skills by participating in activities that improve balance and coordination. They also strengthen fine motor skills by manipulating small objects and practicing pre-writing activities.

Science:
Preschoolers observe and communicate local weather conditions and how human behavior changes in response to weather, such as dressing appropriately for the conditions. They also explore how sunlight affects different surfaces, noting whether they feel hot or cold, and observe how light illuminates objects, making them visible.

Social Studies:
Preschoolers learn to recognize differences and similarities in their community's cultures, languages, and abilities. They also learn about basic safety procedures and the importance of caring for their home, school, and the Earth.

USBE PARENT GUIDE - Preschoo (3 year olds)     UTAH CORE STANDARDS

English Language Arts: 

• Engage in conversations with children.
• While reading to children, ask questions about what may happen next, how the book relates to their own experiences, how the characters in the story are feeling, etc. Encourage children to re-enact stories using dramatic play or puppets.

Fine Arts:

• Encourage conversation to help children express their ideas, emotions, and understanding in a variety of ways. 
• Encourage children to observe, interpret, and understand how others express themselves. 

Health Education:

• Encourage the child to participate in bedtime routines, including brushing their teeth, etc.
• Provide examples of what a good friend is and is not.
• Provide suggestions for appropriate turn-taking.

Mathematics: 

• Use mathematical language to extend children’s understanding within the context of their experiences, such as: “Do you want half a glass of milk or a full glass of milk?” or “Would you like more or fewer grapes than I have?”
• Use mathematical language to extend children’s understanding within the context of their experiences, such as: “Do you want half a glass of milk or a full glass of milk?” or “Would you like more or fewer grapes than I have?”

Physical Education:

• Provide play-based opportunities for children to run, gallop, throw, catch, hop, kick, dance, jump, climb, pull, carry, stretch, bend, twist, and move isolated body parts. 
• Help your child practice building with large and small blocks, molding clay, using scissors or tongs, stringing beads, placing pegs in holes, assembling puzzles, using a computer mouse, and using a variety of writing utensils (pencils, crayons, markers, etc.) and art mediums (paint, clay, stamps, etc.).

Science: 

• Allow children to explore their surroundings and ask questions while they are doing so. Lead them in discussions of, “What do you think will happen if…?”
• Point out changes in children’s environment, including the weather, seasons, etc.

Social Studies:

• Follow the children’s lead, play with them at their level, and encourage cooperative play.
• Provide children with choices and voting opportunities.
  Model behaviors that care for the environment.

English Language Arts:
Preschoolers express themselves using pictures and pre-writing skills. They also converse with others and practice early reading skills, such as recognizing letters, sounds, and simple words.

Fine Arts:
Preschoolers develop their creative expression through drama, dance, music, and visual arts. They will explore roles in dramatic play, express emotions and ideas through movement and music, create art using various materials, and gain an appreciation for different forms of artistic expression.

Health Education:
Preschoolers develop greater independence in basic hygiene behaviors, practice prosocial skills, identify characteristics of safe relationships, and identify a variety of healthy foods

Mathematics:
Preschoolers practice counting to 20, identifying numbers that come before or after one another, and using one-to-one correspondence to count objects. They also create basic addition and subtraction with concrete objects, recognize and create simple patterns, and describe measurable attributes like size and weight. 

Physical Education:
Preschoolers develop coordination, control, and balance in large-motor activities. They also enhance fine motor skills by learning to manipulate small objects with greater precision, using a pincer grasp for holding writing tools, and creating simple handwriting strokes.

Science:
Preschoolers investigate how sunlight and water affect plant growth. They also explore the basic needs of living things and explore the properties of different materials, sorting them based on characteristics like color, texture, or whether they are solids or liquids.

Social Studies:
Preschoolers identify and discuss similarities and differences in their homes, classroom, community, and personal identity. They also actively contribute to a classroom culture by sharing, taking turns, and following rules.

USBE PARENT GUIDE - Preschool (4 year olds)     UTAH CORE STANDARDS

English Language Arts: 

• Create a language- and print-rich environment, including reading, listening, writing, and dramatic play centers, eye-level alphabet charts, picture/word labels, and samples of children’s work. Modifications and support in children’s primary language may be provided as necessary.
• Use a wide variety of media and presentation forms, including animated and engaging storytelling, pictures or drawings, posters, appropriate short multimedia presentations, drama, signs, paintings, sculptures, puppets, and hand signs.

Fine Arts:

• Support children’s self-awareness by providing opportunities for children to display, perform, and discuss their creative works.
• Engage and follow the children’s lead in creative processes. 

Health Education:

• Talk about foods in the environment and discuss healthy foods during snack time.
• Help children acknowledge their feelings and teach them appropriate ways to handle those feelings.

Mathematics: 

• Integrate mathematics throughout the day (for example, counting snacks, identifying shapes, ordering objects by length or size).
• Model and encourage correct mathematical language throughout the day.

Physical Education:

• Participate in fine and gross motor activities alongside the children.
• Teach, model, and maintain proper safety rules. 
• Provide opportunities for both organized and spontaneous play

Science: 

• Provide children with language to describe what they see, hear, touch, taste, etc.
• Build ramps, forts, levers, etc., with children and let them discover what will happen when using them. 

Social Studies:

• Encourage children to respect and include all classmates, appreciate differences, and meet one another’s needs. 
• Set up a play date or lunch group so your child can practice positive social interactions.

Computer Science:
Students will use computers and/or tablets to develop beginning keyboarding skills, complete tasks, and learn how information is shared. They will also create and identify patterns in data.

English Language Arts:
Kindergarteners practice reading by building phonological awareness and recognizing letter sounds. They also learn to write various styles of texts and participate in conversations and presentations using appropriate vocabulary.

Fine Arts:
Students engage with music and visual art. They use the arts to explore emotions, cultures, and celebrations. 

Health Education:
Students practice emotional awareness, identify safe people, and discuss the importance of safety equipment (e.g., bicycle helmets). They also explore nutrition and hygiene. 

Library:
Students will learn good behavior, explore topics they’re curious about, and find information using books and videos. They will understand the difference between fiction and nonfiction, identify how media messages are made, and practice using technology safely.

Mathematics:
Students develop foundational skills in counting, identifying quantities, and understanding addition and subtraction. They also explore number relationships, shapes, measurements, and data. 

Physical Education:
Students practice balance, coordination, and moving in different directions and speeds. They also learn about the importance of physical activity, nutrition, and cooperative play.

Science:
Students explore weather patterns and the needs of living things. They also conduct experiments to understand the effects of sunlight, forces, and motion.

Social Studies:
Students learn about community, citizenship, and geography. They will explore the roles of individuals and groups, learn basic map skills, and recognize the importance of rules and responsibilities.

USBE PARENT GUIDE - KINDERGARTEN     UTAH CORE STANDARDS

English Language Arts: 

• Encourage reading by having conversations about stories, listening to your child read, and engaging in activities like singing songs, reciting rhymes, and playing word games.
• Support letter recognition by pointing out print in everyday environments.

Fine Arts:

• Provide materials for children to explore creating art (ex., collages, costumes, or simple instruments) in a space where some mess is okay.
• Use music and dance for parties and celebrations.
• Engage in various arts activities together (ex., Attend a live performance, make sculptures out of food, or make music together).

Health Education:

• Discuss safety with your child. Model the importance of seatbelt and booster seat use, and help your child identify trusted adults they can turn to.
• Practice calming techniques for when they feel frustrated or angry.
• Involve your child in preparing a variety of healthy meals.

Mathematics: 

• Foster a positive attitude toward math by speaking positively about it and emphasizing perseverance over speed.
• Practice estimating and counting with everyday objects. 
• Use calendars to develop concepts of time. Count down to an exciting event together.

Physical Education:

• Engage in various physical activities with your child that encourage cooperation,  teamwork, and moving their bodies in different ways.
• Involve them in planning healthy meals that support an active lifestyle.

Science: 

• Help your child observe and record weather patterns throughout the seasons, discussing the changes and how they vary across different times of the year.
• Encourage exploration of how plants and animals meet their survival needs.
• Engage in simple experiments. For example, test how pushing with different levels of strength affects a ball's movement.

Social Studies:

• Take your child on walks around the neighborhood or visit local landmarks to discuss different places, people, and their roles in the community.
• Use simple maps of your home, neighborhood, or town to help your child identify places and directions.

Computer Science:
Students will learn to operate various digital devices, explore hardware and software functions, and collect and present visual data. They will practice creating simple programs, break tasks into sequential steps, and develop problem-solving skills.

English Language Arts:
Students develop phonological awareness, decoding skills, and the ability to understand and respond to texts while also learning to write simple sentences and express ideas clearly. 

Fine Arts:
Students create, perform, and respond to music and visual arts, emphasizing connecting these arts to personal life, culture, and other subjects. 

Health Education:
Students explore emotional health, safety, nutrition, and healthy habits.

Library:
Students will learn to ask questions for research, select books and resources, differentiate between fiction and nonfiction, understand the purpose of media messages, and practice responsible media use.

Mathematics:
Students focus on building foundational skills in counting, addition, subtraction, and geometry.

Physical Education:
Students develop motor skills and understand the benefits of exercise.

Science:
Students explore patterns in nature, including the movement of celestial bodies, plant growth, and the relationship between light and sound.

Social Studies:
Students learn about their community, basic geography, the importance of rules and laws, and how historical figures and events have shaped their world.

USBE Parent Guide - First Grade     Utah CORE standards

English Language Arts:

• Listen to your child read, discuss what they read, and encourage them to tell you stories.
• Engage in educational screen time by choosing programs that interest your child and build knowledge.

Fine Arts:

• Provide creative materials, such as old clothes for playmaking, simple musical instruments, and art supplies for drawing or crafting.
• Attend live performances (music, dance, drama), create and perform arts at home, and engage in hands-on activities like making puppets or sculptures.

Health Education:

• Practice calming techniques together.
• Create a home safety plan (e.g., emergency protocols, helmet use) and help your child identify trusted adults that your child can go to. 
• Prepare healthy meals with your child and discuss the importance of nutrition.

Mathematics:

• Foster a positive attitude towards math.
• Encourage multiple problem-solving strategies, focusing on effort and perseverance.
• Use everyday activities to build math skills. For example, you can help your child count with coins, tell time on an analog clock, and discuss estimation.

Physical Education:

• Engage in physical activities together that promote skills like throwing, catching, jumping, and dribbling.
• Practice social play and promote sportsmanship by inviting others to join cooperative games.

Science:

• Observe the sun’s position throughout the day and discuss the patterns you see.
• Conduct experiments like shining a flashlight on objects to explore light.
• Observe and discuss how mother animals care for their young.

Social Studies:

• Visit local landmarks, parks, or museums. Discuss the roles of community helpers.
• Read books or watch videos about historical figures or events, then talk with your child about how these people or events shaped the world around them.

Computer Science:
Students will learn how to operate devices, troubleshoot basic hardware and software issues, and use passwords to keep their information secure. They will also collect and present visual data, use simple algorithms, and discuss the impact of technology on society.

English Language Arts:
Students develop reading fluency and comprehension, phonological awareness, and the ability to decode multi-syllable words. They also write opinion, informative, and narrative pieces and engage in speaking and listening activities.

Fine Arts:
Students use movement, expression, and imagination to explore and convey ideas. They also describe the elements of various art forms and connect their artistic experiences to culture and emotions.

Health Education:
Students learn about human development, personal boundaries, body awareness, emotional regulation, and nutrition. They also focus on safety, healthcare providers, disease prevention, and avoiding substance misuse.

Library:
Students will learn to narrow down research topics, ask specific questions, and evaluate information using various resources. They will explore how media messages are created with intent, begin practicing responsible digital citizenship, and strengthen their understanding of texts by identifying key story elements.

Mathematics:
Students will develop problem-solving skills, understand place value, work with addition and subtraction within 20, and begin to work with multiplication concepts. They will also explore measurement, time, money, data, and geometry.

Physical Education:
Children will build confidence and challenge their motor skills through cooperative games. They will also discuss the importance of physical activity, nutrition, and hydration.

Science:
Students will learn about the properties of matter, explore how Earth's surface changes, and investigate living things and their habitats. They will also design solutions to problems, experiment using models, and discuss their observations.

Social Studies:
Students will learn about the roles and responsibilities of community members, the importance of rules and laws, and how individuals and groups contribute to the community's success.

usbe parent guide - second grade     utah core standards

English Language Arts:

• Have your child read every day at home. Encourage them to read to younger siblings or other children.
• Have your child write about their activities and other things that interest them.
• Engage your child in conversations about interests and texts they are reading.

Fine Arts:

• Set up an "art area" with materials like crayons, markers, old magazines, and scrap paper to encourage creative exploration through drawing, collage-making, or sculpture.
• Host a mini performance at home where your child can create and perform their dance, play, or music using props like old clothes, hats, and simple musical instruments.
• Take your child to local arts events such as live performances, museums, or theater productions to expose them to different art forms and inspire their creativity.

Health Education:

• Talk with your child about safe people they can trust and go to for help. Make a list of these people and display it in an accessible place for the child.
• Prepare a healthy meal as a family. Discuss how each food choice helps the body stay strong and healthy.
• Teach your child the correct names for body parts, and explain the importance of respecting their and others’ bodies and boundaries. 

Mathematics:

• Encourage your child to explore math by adding, subtracting, and estimating everyday objects like blocks, coins, or candy.
• Use real-life activities, like shopping with real money or telling time with an analog clock, to help your child apply math concepts in practical situations.
• Foster a positive attitude toward math by celebrating effort and perseverance, engaging in problem-solving conversations, and playing math-based games together.

Physical Education:

• Practice and play a variety of physical activities together that encourage skipping, running, throwing, and catching.
• Let your child help plan a healthy meal and discuss how the meal supports an active lifestyle.
• Practice cooperation and sportsmanship by inviting other children of all ability levels to participate in games and activities.

Science:

• Brainstorm ways to stop wind or water from changing the shape of the ground in your yard or neighborhood.
• Observe and describe the plants and animals in your neighborhood. Determine what resources they need to survive and what features they have that help them to survive.
• Sort different toys in your house based on properties such as color, texture, hardness, and strength.

Social Studies:

• Talk with your child about different jobs and roles within the community. Ask them to identify people they know who contribute to the community's well-being, such as teachers, doctors, or firefighters.
• Discuss family rules and local laws and how they help everyone stay safe and work together.

Computer Science:
Students learn how computing devices connect to form systems, protect personal information, and influence society and culture. They will also develop digital safety habits and collaborate with peers to create, modify, test, and debug original coding.

English Language Arts:
Students transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.” They also improve their writing skills, conduct research projects, and engage in discussions using appropriate vocabulary and logical sequencing.

Fine Arts:
Students will explore movement, performance, and cultural connections. They will improvise choreography, develop drama with character and conflict, create and interpret music, and produce art based on cultural influences.

Health Education:
Students will learn about the negative impacts of substance misuse, develop healthy strategies for processing negative emotions, identify parts of their body using accurate terms, and develop interpersonal communication skills.

Library:
Students refine their ability to ask focused questions, evaluate the reliability of sources, and locate relevant information using library catalogs, the internet, and databases. They will analyze media messages, practice safe online behaviors, and recommend favorite books to peers.

Mathematics:
Students will learn to solve multiplication and division problems, understand fractions as numbers, and use place-value strategies for multi-digit arithmetic. They will also explore area and perimeter within geometric shapes, practice estimation, and interpret data.

Physical Education:
Third-grade students will practice combining large-motor and movement skills using direction, force, and timing. They will also develop cooperative skills and discuss the value of physical activity for personal growth and social interaction.

Science:
Students will explore weather and climate patterns, understand how traits affect organisms' survival, and investigate the effects of forces on motion. They will also design solutions to various problems and identify patterns in weather, life cycles, and traits.

Social Studies:
Students will explore the geography and history of the United States, focusing on regions, landmarks, and the nation's development. They will also learn about government systems, the roles of citizens, and the importance of cultural and historical events in shaping society.

USBE parent guide - third grade     UTAH CORE STANDARDS

English Language Arts:

• Make reading a part of your daily routine by setting aside a quiet time, with limited distractions, for your child to read.
• Keep what your child enjoys reading around the house.
• Encourage your child to read and write about topics they are interested in. Help them incorporate newly learned vocabulary words to enrich their writing.

Fine Arts:

• Set up a designated area in your home using old sheets or open space for children to perform dance, drama, or music. Provide old clothes, hats, and props for imaginative play, allowing them to create and perform their shows.
• Encourage children to explore their creativity in a designated "art area" where messes are allowed. Provide tools for this area, like crayons, markers, scrap paper, old magazines, or cardboard from cereal boxes.

Health Education:

• Talk with your child about safe people such as parents, guardians, relatives, teachers, counselors, or clergy, and list at least three specific people your child could go to for help.
• Play a game like charades that requires nonverbal communication. Discuss why nonverbal and verbal communication are both important.

Mathematics:

• Engage your child in math by involving them in practical tasks like cooking, where they can explore fractions and units of measurement.
• Discuss the applications of everyday math, such as calculating savings during a sale or estimating time and distance during a road trip.

Physical Education:

• Practice and play a variety of physical activities together that encourage throwing, catching, and kicking in various directions, speeds, and levels. 
• Stress the importance of balancing nutrition, hydration, and exercise for a healthy body.
• Tell positive stories about participation in physical activities, including friendships that resulted from that participation.

Science: 

• Observe and record weather conditions at your home for two weeks. Together, determine whether these conditions are typical for the time of year and defend your answer.
• Observe and record the life cycle of a butterfly, mealworm, or quick-growing plant. 

Social Studies: 

• Encourage your child to explore maps and atlases. Help them identify key U.S. regions, landmarks, and geographical features.
• Visit local museums to deepen your child's understanding of cultural and historical milestones.

Computer Lab:
Students will learn how computer hardware and software work together, how information travels through networks, and how to organize and present data. They will also create programs, explore the impact of technology on society, and suggest ways to make technology more accessible for everyone.

English Language Arts:
Students will read multisyllabic words fluently, summarize texts, and identify text structures to improve comprehension. They will write using a variety of styles, conduct research, and practice using supporting details to present ideas.

Fine Arts:
Students engage more deeply visual art and music. Students create and perform using multicultural references, express complex ideas and emotions, and use instruments and tools with greater insight. 

Health Education:
Students create goals, relate to others with empathy, identify basic nutrients, practice refusing alcohol and substances, and learn basic skeletal and muscular systems.

Mathematics:
Children will use the four operations with multi-digit numbers, employ place value for whole numbers less than 1,000,000, build fractions, and order fractions and decimals. They will also convert units of measurement, utilize area and perimeter with basic shapes, and classify shapes by lines and angles.

Library:
Students will learn to evaluate information sources, organize and synthesize research, and analyze media messages. They will deepen their understanding of library organization, navigate print and digital resources, and develop responsible media creation and digital citizenship skills.

Physical Education:
Students will focus on control and coordination in various athletic activities, apply basic offensive and defensive strategies, identify essential components of physical fitness, and listen to and offer constructive criticism.

Science:
Students will use models and data to explain how organisms function in their environment. They will also investigate energy transfer, explore wave patterns, and discuss the movements of planets and stars.

Social Studies:
Students will learn about their state's history, geography, and culture. They will explore Native American history, the settlement of Utah, and the state's development over time.

USBE Parent guide - fourth grade     utah core standards

English Language Arts:

• Make reading a part of your daily routine by setting aside a quiet time, with limited distractions, for your child to read.
• Encourage your child to read and write about topics they are interested in. Help them explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support the information provided in the text. Help them apply this reasoning to support their knowledge and opinions while speaking and writing.

Fine Arts:

• Go to live arts, music, dance, and drama performances.
• Make puppets using materials around the house, such as sticks, pinecones, old socks, and lunch sacks.

Health Education:

• Discuss how treating others with mental and physical health conditions with empathy is important.
• Prepare a healthy meal together and list the nutrients in the meal. Explain how calories are just a measure of how much energy is in the food.

Mathematics:

• When working on math at home, focus on flexibility and perseverance rather than speed.
•  Include your child in day-to-day activities that involve precise mathematics. Talk with your child about the mathematics involved in completing the task—for example, fractions in cooking and baking, using sewing patterns, measuring wood for a project, etc.

Physical Education:

• Practice activities that require offensive and defensive strategy.
• Encourage the acceptance of corrective feedback and praise the performance of others.

Science:

• Observe fossils for evidence of the environment the organisms lived in and the features that helped them survive.
• Observe what happens to the energy of objects when they collide. 

Social Studies: 

• Explore local historical sites and museums with your child. Discuss the history of Utah and its Native American tribes to deepen their understanding of state history.
• Encourage children to create a timeline of key events in Utah's history and research the state's geography. Help them connect historical events to current locations and landmarks.

Computer Science:
Students will learn how computer hardware and software work together, how information travels through networks, and how to organize and present data. They will also create programs, explore the impact of technology on society, and suggest ways to make technology more accessible for everyone.

English Language Arts:
Students will read grade-level texts with fluency and comprehension and analyze their structural elements. They will write cohesive pieces that use evidence, structure, and conventions to express ideas. They will also discuss and debate various grade-level topics using vocabulary and evidence to support their claims.

Fine Arts:
Students will interpret ideas and emotions in music, and create detailed art based on other cultures.

Health Education:
Students will define and create SMART goals, identify and practice healthy emotional processing techniques, resist peer pressure to engage in risky behaviors, and use food labels to understand nutritional components. Fifth grade also includes the Maturation Program, where students gather to learn age-appropriate information about their changing bodies and the stages of puberty. Parental permission is required for participation, and parents are encouraged to attend the meeting with their children.

Mathematics:
Students will utilize order of operation for math operations in various contexts, including using multi-digit decimals, simplifying fractions, and graphing points on a coordinate plane. They will also classify shapes by their properties and practice conversion between U.S. and metric units.

Library:
Students will evaluate and organize information from multiple sources, synthesize findings, and ethically utilize digital tools. They will analyze media messages and continue to refine their reading and literary categorization skills.

Physical Education:
Students will design personal fitness plans, attain efficient movement and performance goals, and express the value of physical activity. They will also play cooperatively with others of higher and lower athletic levels.

Science:
Students investigate earth systems, explore properties of matter (including physical and chemical changes), and build a conceptual understanding of the cycling of matter in ecosystems. They also design solutions to naturally occurring phenomena that impact humans and the environment.

Social Studies:
Students will learn about the early history of the United States, including the American Revolution, the Constitution, and Westward expansion.

USBE Parent guide - fifth grade     utah core standards

English Language Arts:

• Provide opportunities for your child to read every day. Support your child in finding books, videos, and other resources so that they can write and/or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
• Encourage your child to ask clarifying questions about topics, texts, and other resources.
• Engage your child in discussions about themselves, their peers, and their world.

Fine Arts:

• Gather art supplies and make a mural together.
• Have your child create and perform dance, drama, or music performances.

Health Education:

• Together, practice healthy stress management techniques, such as family walks, listening to music, coloring, or yoga.
• Discuss your family values and expectations around substance use and the consequences of decisions.
• Discuss your experience with puberty and maturation. Answer questions your student has before and after the maturation presentation.

Mathematics:

• If you notice errors in your child’s mathematics, avoid telling them they’re wrong. Instead, engage them in a conversation about their reasoning around how they solved the problem.
• Contact your child’s teacher via email, phone call, conference, etc., to discuss further how you can support your child’s learning at home.

Physical Education:

• Invite other children to participate in games and activities of all ability levels, practicing cooperation and sportsmanship.
• Talk about games, sports, and activities you enjoy and teach your child how to play or participate in them.

Science:

• Look for examples of weathering and erosion in your area. What might be causing it? 
• Make a toy out of Legos. Weigh it. Take the toy apart and weigh all the pieces. Is there a pattern?

Social Studies: 

• Visit historical sites and museums or watch documentaries related to early U.S. history.
• Discuss the importance of historical events like the American Revolution or the creation of the U.S. Constitution by asking questions, watching related videos, or reading books together.