Elementary Curriculum

Tucson Unified Virtual Academy elementary program follows the TUSD K-5 curriculum. Tucson Unified School District recognizes the value of multicultural education in supporting student success. Multicultural education acknowledges that the ways in which students learn and think are deeply influenced by their cultural identity and heritage. To teach culturally diverse students effectively requires educational approaches that value and recognize their cultural backgrounds. In this way, multicultural education aims to improve the learning and success of all students, particularly students from cultural groups that have been historically underrepresented.​

The TUSD curriculum is aligned with the Arizona Academic Standards. 

To view the district curriculum, please visit our TUSD Curriculum & Instruction webpage.

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K-5 Core Curriculum​

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English Language Arts (ELA) 

Students participate in a minimum of 150 minutes of English Language Arts instruction daily. During this time, students will build reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. ELA instruction will include whole-group instruction, small group instruction, and time for independent practice. Grade-level ELA instruction is supported by the Benchmark Advance curriculum, while Raz Plus (Learning A-Z) supports Guided Reading, targeted reading instruction, and independent reading.

English Language Development for English Language Learners (ELD)

Students who are not yet proficient in English participate in 60 minutes of targeted instruction daily. English Language Learners spend time daily working on reading, writing, grammar, and speaking/listening. ELL instruction is supported by the Cengage curriculum.​

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Math

Students participate in a minimum of 60 minutes of math instruction daily. Elementary math instruction focuses on problem solving and math conceptual understanding over rote memorization. Math instruction is supported by Eureka Math² curriculum.​

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Science

Students participate in a minimum of 90 minutes of science instruction weekly. Elementary students explore science through exploration and making sense of phenomena. Science instruction is supported by the FOSS curriculum.

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Social Studies

Social studies in grades K-5 includes citizenship and multicultural education. Social studies may be taught through inquiry-based units of instruction or integrated within the English Language Arts curriculum.

Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Students participate in daily SEL lessons led by the classroom teacher The elementary SEL curriculum, PurposeFull People by Character Strong, is built on 10 character traits: courage, perseverance, honesty, respect, gratitude, kindness, responsibility, cooperation, creativity, and empathy. ​

K-6 Electives​

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All elementary students will attend an elective class daily. Classrooms will switch electives at the semester, so all students have the opportunity to experience a semester of art and a semester of music each year. 

Art

Students in grades K-3 will have art three times a week for one semester, while fourth and fifth grade students will have art daily. During art class, students learn about artists and art techniques while creating physical and digital art.

Music

Students in grades K-3 will have music three times a week for one semester, while fourth and fifth grade students will have music daily. During music instruction, students learn about instruments, musical notation, and musical genres. Students in grade 4 will learn to play the recorder, and students in grade 5 will play the ukulele.