Mankato Area Public Schools' elementary experience provides a foundation for learning for all students. Beginning in kindergarten, students learn a wide variety of skills necessary to give students options for life. We focus on foundational skills in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. In addition, art, music, physical education and health, and media and technology play an important role in our students' ability to think creatively, globally, and in a healthy manner. Our staff works to ensure that all students learn at high levels and meet their fullest potential.
Kindergartners are very curious about how things work and teachers often use this enthusiasm by setting up projects on topics that interest them. The kindergarten year is one in which kids learn more about the formal classroom setting – learning to focus for segments of time on basic literacy and math, and learning simple science and social studies. This is the foundation year for getting used to the routine of school, the process of focusing and learning, and the social skills involved in making new friends. It’s a crucial year for building the foundation of learning.
Students in kindergarten will be able to:
The Minnesota ELA Standards are taught using a balanced literacy approach; instruction is delivered in a gradual release model. A balanced approach includes instruction encompassing the five big ideas:
Phonological & Phonemic Awareness • Phonics & Word Study • Vocabulary • Comprehension • Fluency
Benchmark Education is the core resource used to teach Reading and Writing in Kindergarten. Benchmark Education has a solid research base and is made up of whole group, small group, phonics and writer’s workshop components. Effective readers use comprehension and metacognitive strategies in conjunction to develop a deeper understanding of a text. Kindergarten students will learn to develop comprehension strategies and metacognitive strategies hand in hand. These strategies include:
Writing and grammar are taught through a balanced literacy workshop approach. In kindergarten students learn about:
District 77 uses the Michigan Model for Health curriculum. Some kindergarten topics include:
Students in kindergarten will develop skills that enable them to become technologically literate citizens.
GamePlan is an active music curriculum for children. GamePlan sequences musical skills and objectives that support the National Standards for Arts Education. GamePlan is a very diverse curriculum which embraces several philosophies, including the principle of Orff Schulwerk and the Kodaly approach to reading rhythm and melody. Folk songs, folk rhymes, and traditional children's games and dances form an integral part of the repertoire. Objectives in the lessons are categorized into five conceptual areas: rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and timbre. Students approach objectives through a variety of experiences including moving, speaking, singing, listening, playing and notating.
Science is delivered using the 2005 Macmillan-McGraw Hill Science program. This program combines modular hands-on experiences with a rich text component to support the learning of science concepts. Kindergarten units include:
Animals:
Weather and Sky:
In many ways, 1st grade is a year of important transitions — children leave behind much of the play of preschool and kindergarten and dive into developing deeper academic skills. First graders progress from having beginner reading and writing skills to becoming beginning readers and writers, as they not only read and write more often, but with greater comprehension and ability, too.
First grade is a crucial year for building reading skills. In 1st grade, students begin to define themselves with respect to what kind of readers they are. More specifically, research has shown that the most effective and successful 1st grade classrooms are those which are very positive places, encourage reading and writing, and convey the message “You can be a reader” to students. While this is already being done in the classroom, it can certainly be done at home too.
Students in first grade will be able to:
The Minnesota ELA Standards are taught using a balanced literacy approach; instruction is delivered in a gradual release model. A balanced approach includes instruction encompassing the five big ideas:
Phonological & Phonemic Awareness • Phonics & Word Study • Vocabulary • Comprehension • Fluency
Benchmark Education is the core resource used to teach Reading and Writing in first grade. Benchmark Education has a solid research base and is made up of whole group, small group, phonics and writer’s workshop components. Effective readers use comprehension and metacognitive strategies in conjunction to develop a deeper understanding of a text. First grade students will learn to develop comprehension strategies and metacognitive strategies hand in hand. These strategies include:
Writing and grammar are taught through a balanced literacy workshop approach. In first grade students learn about:
District 77 uses the Michigan Model for Health curriculum. Some first grade topics include:
Students in grade one will develop skills that enable them to become technologically literate citizens:
GamePlan is an active music curriculum for children. GamePlan sequences musical skills and objectives that support the National Standards for Arts Education. GamePlan is a very diverse curriculum which embraces several philosophies, including the principle of Orff Schulwerk and the Kodaly approach to reading rhythm and melody. Folk songs, folk rhymes, and traditional children's games and dances form an integral part of the repertoire. Objectives in the lessons are categorized into five conceptual areas: rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and timbre. Students approach objectives through a variety of experiences including moving, speaking, singing, listening, playing and notating.
Science is delivered using the 2005 Macmillan-McGraw Hill Science program. This program combines modular hands-on experiences with a rich text component to support the learning of science concepts. Grade one units include:
Animals Are Living Things:
The Sky and Weather:
On the Move:
The Harcourt social studies curriculum is used in grade one. “A Child’s View” is the focus of the curriculum. Grade one units include:
In 2nd grade, students have adjusted to the more rigorous learning environment they initially encountered in 1st grade and are able to further deepen and expand their skills and knowledge. In 2nd grade, they become more experienced writers, readers, and mathematicians as they practice these skills more and in more complex and comprehensive ways. They read longer and more complicated books, they write longer and more complex pieces, and they learn more of the concepts underlying the math they do. In addition, 2nd graders begin to develop their research and critical thinking projects as they create individual and group work to share and present what they learn through different forms, including writing, speaking, and art.
Students in second grade will be able to:
The Minnesota ELA Standards are taught using a balanced literacy approach; instruction is delivered in a gradual release model. A balanced approach includes instruction encompassing the five big ideas:
Phonological & Phonemic Awareness • Phonics & Word Study • Vocabulary • Comprehension • Fluency
Benchmark Education is the core resource used to teach Reading and Writing in second grade. Benchmark Education has a solid research base and is made up of whole group, small group, phonics and writer’s workshop components. Effective readers use comprehension and metacognitive strategies in conjunction to develop a deeper understanding of a text. Second grade students will learn to develop comprehension strategies and metacognitive strategies hand in hand. These strategies include:
Writing and grammar are taught through a balanced literacy workshop approach. In second grade students learn about:
District 77 uses the Michigan Model for Health curriculum. Some second grade topics include:
Students in grade two will develop skills that enable them to become technologically literate citizens.
GamePlan is an active music curriculum for children. GamePlan sequences musical skills and objectives that support the National Standards for Arts Education. GamePlan is a very diverse curriculum which embraces several philosophies, including the principle of Orff Schulwerk and the Kodaly approach to reading rhythm and melody. Folk songs, folk rhymes, and traditional children's games and dances form an integral part of the repertoire. Objectives in the lessons are categorized into five conceptual areas: rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and timbre. Students approach objectives through a variety of experiences including moving, speaking, singing, listening, playing and notating.
Science is delivered using the 2012 Pearson Interactive Science program. This program combines modular hands-on experiences with a rich text component to support the learning of science concepts. Grade two units include:
The Nature of Science:
Technology and Tools:
Plants:
Weather:
Matter:
Energy, Motion, and Force:
The Harcourt social studies curriculum is used in grade two. “People We Know” is the focus of the curriculum. Grade two students will learn:
Third grade marks an important time in children’s education as they transition from what is often known as the “lower grades” to the “upper grades.” It is a crucial period in students’ learning as they become more independent and mature learners. In 3rd grade, students progress from practicing basic skills to mastering them and moving on to further developing more complex skills. Third graders become more advanced readers, writers, mathematicians, and thinkers, digging deeper into topics and beginning to analyze what they learn.
Students in third grade will be able to:
The Minnesota ELA Standards are taught using a balanced literacy approach; instruction is delivered in a gradual release model. A balanced approach includes instruction encompassing the five big ideas:
Phonological & Phonemic Awareness • Phonics & Word Study • Vocabulary • Comprehension • Fluency
Benchmark Education is the core resource used to teach Reading and Writing in third grade. Benchmark Education has a solid research base and is made up of whole group, small group, word study, and writer’s workshop components. Effective readers use comprehension and metacognitive strategies in conjunction to develop a deeper understanding of a text. Third grade students will learn to develop comprehension strategies and metacognitive strategies hand in hand. These strategies include:
Writing and grammar are taught through a balanced literacy workshop approach. In third grade students learn about:
Five Genres: Personal Narratives, Realistic Fiction, Informational Reports, Procedural Texts, and Persuasive Letters
District 77 uses the Michigan Model for Health curriculum. Some third grade topics include:
Students in grade three will develop skills that enable them to become technologically literate citizens.
Ethical Participation in a Global Society - Recognizes Appropriate Technology Use
GamePlan is an active music curriculum for children. GamePlan sequences musical skills and objectives that support the National Standards for Arts Education. GamePlan is a very diverse curriculum which embraces several philosophies, including the principle of Orff Schulwerk and the Kodaly approach to reading rhythm and melody. Folk songs, folk rhymes, and traditional children's games and dances form an integral part of the repertoire. Objectives in the lessons are categorized into five conceptual areas: rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and timbre. Students approach objectives through a variety of experiences including moving, speaking, singing, listening, playing and notating.
Science is delivered using the 2012 Pearson Education Interactive Science program. This program provides inquiry-based learning, investigative hands-on experiences, and a rich, consumable text to support the learning of science concepts. Grade three units include:
The Nature of Science:
Plants and Living Things:
The Earth and Our Universe:
Energy and Its Forms:
The Harcourt social studies curriculum is used in grade three. “Our Communities/World Communities” is the focus of the curriculum. Grade three students will learn:
As members of the “upper” grades of elementary school, 4th graders deepen their learning and skills, preparing them for middle school. Fourth graders are still viewed as and learn as elementary school students do. Developmentally, most 4th graders are very much still children; they enjoy and learn from play and thrive in nurturing and warm environments. However, the content of most 4th grade curricula pushes students to think, analyze, and learn in more sophisticated and structured ways. Students are taught to deeply think about and make connections in what they read and learn; write with clarity, flow, and structure similar to that of traditional essays; and learn more complex concepts across all subjects. In addition, 4th graders are encouraged to be more independent in their learning, depending less on the teacher‘s guidance and researching, planning, and revising their work more by themselves.
Students in fourth grade will be able to:
The Minnesota ELA Standards are taught using a balanced literacy approach; instruction is delivered in a gradual release model. A balanced approach includes instruction encompassing the five big ideas:
Phonological & Phonemic Awareness • Phonics & Word Study • Vocabulary • Comprehension • Fluency
Benchmark Education is the core resource used to teach Reading and Writing in fourth grade. Benchmark Education has a solid research base and is made up of whole group, small group, word study, and writer’s workshop components. Effective readers use comprehension and metacognitive strategies in conjunction to develop a deeper understanding of a text. Fourth grade students will learn to develop comprehension strategies and metacognitive strategies hand in hand. These strategies include:
Writing and grammar are taught through a balanced literacy workshop approach. In fourth grade students learn about:
Five Genres: Personal Narratives, Science Fiction, Informational Reports, Procedural Texts, and Book Review
District 77 uses the Michigan Model for Health curriculum. Some fourth grade topics include:
Students in grade four will develop skills that enable them to become technologically literate citizens.
GamePlan is an active music curriculum for children. GamePlan sequences musical skills and objectives that support the National Standards for Arts Education. GamePlan is a very diverse curriculum which embraces several philosophies, including the principle of Orff Schulwerk and the Kodaly approach to reading rhythm and melody. Folk songs, folk rhymes, and traditional children's games and dances form an integral part of the repertoire. Objectives in the lessons are categorized into five conceptual areas: rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and timbre. Students approach objectives through a variety of experiences including moving, speaking, singing, listening, playing and notating.
Science is delivered using the 2012 Pearson Interactive Science program. This program combines inquiry-- asking questions and thinking like a scientist. This is through hands-on labs and a consumable workbook that allows students to be totally engaged in their learning. Grade four units include:
Science, Engineering and Technology:
Earth Science:
Physical Science:
As the last year of elementary school, 5th grade is an important time for students to cement the skills they have gained throughout the upper grades and develop them even further in preparation for middle school. Fifth grade is about helping students practice, refine, and grow their skills, taking all that they have learned to the next step. Fifth graders build on what they learn in 4th grade by thinking and analyzing in deeper ways about what they learn and read. They also write structured, clear, and detailed pieces. Additionally, fifth graders are encouraged and expected to be more independent in their learning, requiring less guidance and support from adults and teachers. For example, when a student is asked to research a topic, he should be able to know what to do and how to accomplish this goal. He certainly may need the assistance of a teacher throughout the research, but he also has the basic tools to do so by himself.
Students in fifth grade will be able to:
The Minnesota ELA Standards are taught using a balanced literacy approach; instruction is delivered in a gradual release model. A balanced approach includes instruction encompassing the five big ideas:
Phonological & Phonemic Awareness • Phonics & Word Study • Vocabulary • Comprehension • Fluency
Benchmark Education is the core resource used to teach Reading and Writing in fifth grade. Benchmark Education has a solid research base and is made up of whole group, small group, word study, and writer’s workshop components. Effective readers use comprehension and metacognitive strategies in conjunction to develop a deeper understanding of a text. Fifth grade students will learn to develop comprehension strategies and metacognitive strategies hand in hand. These strategies include:
Writing and grammar are taught through a balanced literacy workshop approach. In fifth grade students learn about:
Five Genres: Memoirs, Historical Fiction, Informational Reports, Persuasive Letters, and Biographies
District 77 uses the Michigan Model for Health curriculum. Some fifth grade topics include:
Mathematics concepts are taught using the EveryDay Mathematics curriculum. Assessed outcomes focus on:
Students in grade five will develop skills that enable them to become technologically literate citizens.
GamePlan is an active music curriculum for children. GamePlan sequences musical skills and objectives that support the National Standards for Arts Education. GamePlan is a very diverse curriculum which embraces several philosophies, including the principle of Orff Schulwerk and the Kodaly approach to reading rhythm and melody. Folk songs, folk rhymes, and traditional children's games and dances form an integral part of the repertoire. Objectives in the lessons are categorized into five conceptual areas: rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and timbre. Students approach objectives through a variety of experiences including moving, speaking, singing, listening, playing and notating.
Science is delivered using the 2012 Pearson Interactive Science program. This program combines inquiry-- asking questions and thinking like a scientist. This is through hands-on labs and a consumable workbook that allows students to be totally engaged in their learning. Grade five units include:
Science, Engineering and Technology:
Life Science:
Earth Science:
Physical Science:
The Houghton Mifflin social studies curriculum is used in grade five. “United States History: Early years” is the focus of the curriculum. Grade five students will learn:
Department of Teaching & Learning
10 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 3
Mankato, Minnesota 56001
507-387-7353
Mankato Area Public Schools (MAPS) is inviting feedback from the community on revisions to the school district’s strategic roadmap. When approved by the School Board on May 6, the roadmap will guide the system’s future-focused education initiatives.
Feedback will be collected through this link until April 26th, 2024.
