Academic Standards – Grades K-5

Red Wing Public Schools adheres to academic standards set by the Minnesota Department of Education. These are a blend of national and state-developed standards. See the curriculum areas below for more information on specific academic standards. 

English Language Arts Standards 2010

English Language Arts (ELA) are all of the communication and language skills and processes people use every day to receive and send information. We receive information through listening, viewing, and reading, and we send information through writing, speaking, facial expression, body language, and auditory and visual representations. We use language to learn, to question, to share feelings, to help others, to be part of civilization. The ability to use and understand language, both spoken and written, is critical to every aspect of students’ lives.

Students learn and apply knowledge of the English language by gathering, comprehending, evaluating, synthesizing, and reporting information and ideas, by conducting original research in order to answer questions and solve problems, and by analyzing and creating a range of print and non-print texts in old and new media. They also explore the literature of several cultures and historical periods and create their own literature, learning how purpose, audience and cultural perspective impact one’s use of language along the way.

• MN Academic Standards in English Language Arts

Mathematics Standards 2007

The Minnesota Academic Standards in Mathematics set the expectations for achievement in mathematics for K-12 students in Minnesota. This document is grounded in the belief that all students can and should be mathematically proficient. All students should learn important mathematical concepts, skills, and relationships with understanding. The standards presented here describe a connected body of mathematical knowledge that is acquired through the processes of problem-solving, reasoning and proof, communication, connections, and representation. The standards are placed at the grade level where mastery is expected with the recognition that intentional experiences at earlier grades are required to facilitate learning and mastery for other grade levels.

The Minnesota Academic Standards in Mathematics are organized by grade level into four content strands: 1) Number and Operation, 2) Algebra, 3) Geometry and Measurement, and 4) Data Analysis and Probability. Each strand has one or more standards.

• MN Academic Standards in Mathematics

Science Standards 2019

The 2019 Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Science (Standards) set the expectations for achievement in science for grades K-12 students in Minnesota. The Standards are grounded in the belief that all students can and should be scientifically literate. Scientific literacy enables people to use scientific principles and processes to make personal decisions and to participate in discussions of scientific issues that affect society (NRC, 1996). Graduates should be prepared for career and college opportunities. The Standards describe a connected body of science and engineering knowledge acquired through active participation in science experiences. These experiences include hands-on laboratory activities rooted in science and engineering practices. The Standards are based on current science education found in A Framework for K-12 Science Education (Framework) (NRC, 2012), which emphasize the inclusion within science standards, curriculum, and instruction of three dimensions: Scientific and Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Disciplinary Core Ideas.

• View the framework at the National Academies Press

• MN Academic Standards in Science

Social Studies Standards 2011

Social Studies is the interdisciplinary study of citizenship and government, economics, geography, history, and other disciplines in the social sciences and humanities in which students develop the content knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to be informed and engaged citizens in the contemporary world. According to the National Council for the Social Studies, the purpose of social studies is to develop civic competence and ‘help young people make informed and reasoned decisions for the public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.’

The state uses the diagram below to show the four primary disciplines in social studies curriculum, the substrands of study within each, and the learning skills students will use in the course of their studies.

• MN Academic Standards in Social Studies

Specialist | Physical Education Standards 2018

The Minnesota Department of Education adopted the K-12 Academic Standards in Physical Education in 2018. In addition, each school district is required to develop local standards for health education.

• MN Academic Standards in Physical Education

Specialist | Arts Standards 2018

The Minnesota Department of Education adopted the K-12 Academic Standards in Art Education in 2018. The interrelationship of artistic knowledge and processes defines artistic literacy. Engaging Students in the Arts can help educators bring arts into the classroom, allowing students to integrate arts with other subject areas.

• MN Academic Standards in Arts Education

Source: Minnesota Department of Education Standards, Curriculum and Instruction

• Arts

• Artistic literacy is a combination of foundational knowledge and skills in an art form with the ability to work in four processes fundamental to the arts: Creating, Responding, Performing/Presenting, and Connecting.

• The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in the Arts include five arts areas: dance, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts.

• English Language Arts

• English language arts (ELA) are all of the communication and language skills and processes people use every day to receive and send information. We receive information through listening, viewing, and reading, and we send information through speaking, non-verbal expression, and auditory, visual, and written representations. The ability to use and understand language is critical to every aspect of students’ lives and their future college and career readiness. 

• The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in English Language Arts include reading, writing, speaking, viewing, listening, media literacy, and language standards.

• Health Education

• The purpose of health education is to positively influence the health behavior of individuals and communities as well as the living and working conditions that influence their health. Health education improves the health status of individuals, families, communities, states, and the nation. 

• The National Health Education Standards and Minnesota Benchmarks were developed by the Minnesota Department of Education to serve as a guide for districts for locally developed standards providing sample grade-specific benchmarks for K-12 health education. 

• Physical Education

• The goal of the K-12 Physical Education Standards are to develop physically literate individuals who have the knowledge, skills and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity. To pursue a lifetime of healthful physical activity, a physically literate individual: has learned the skills necessary to participate in a variety of physical activities; knows the implications and the benefits of involvement in various types of physical activities participates regularly in physical activity; is physically fit; values physical activity and its contributions to a healthful lifestyle.

• Mathematics

• Mathematics is a discipline whose basic ingredients are numbers, shapes, and algebraic relationships. Logical reasoning is used to study the properties of these objects and develop connections between them. The results can be used to understand and analyze a vast array of phenomena arising in all of the sciences, engineering and everyday life. For this reason, mathematics is often called the "language of science.” We support mathematics achievement for all learners by providing guidance and technical assistance on implementation of academic standards, current best practices, and multi-tiered systems of intervention. 

• The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Mathematics are grounded in the belief that all students can and should be mathematically proficient. The standards are grouped by strands:

  1. Number and Operation

  2. Algebra

  3. Geometry and Measurement

  4. Data Analysis and Probability.

• Science

• Science is the active study of the natural and man-made world, including processes, structures, designs, and systems. Science students use their senses and tools to observe, record and analyze data about the world and make conclusions based on evidence. Scientifically literate young people can understand basic science concepts, use skills for doing scientific investigations, solve technical problems, and design technologies for today’s world. 

• The Minnesota K-12 Science Education Standards support science achievement for all learners by providing guidance and technical assistance on implementation of academic standards, current literacy best practices, multitiered systems of intervention, and science policy administration.

• Social Studies

• Social Studies is the interdisciplinary study of citizenship and government, economics, geography, history, and other disciplines in the social sciences and humanities in which students develop the content, concepts, skills, and dispositions necessary to be informed and engaged citizens in the contemporary world. 

• The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Social Studies include citizenship and government, economics, geography, and history.

• World Languages

• The study of world languages prepares students to be linguistically and culturally competent and to communicate, work and collaborate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds at home and abroad. Speaking the language of others is essential for understanding their culture, and perspectives and for the global competency students need to be prepared for life and work in the 21st century.

• The Minnesota K-12 Academic World Language Standards are locally developed but must be based on the most recent ACTFL world language standards.