In elementary school, children learn how to learn—and remember—new information. Students study a variety of subjects. These help them develop both creativity and critical-thinking skills. These skills are what they’ll need to meet the challenges in later years.
Grades K–5 set the foundation for:
reading
writing
listening
speaking
math
science
social studies
health
physical education
the arts
Kindergarten
Kindergarten forms the basic building blocks of literacy and arithmetic. NYC students can apply for kindergarten in the year they turn five. In this grade, students will:
learn the alphabet (including sounds of letters, words, pronunciations)
share ideas and feelings through speech, drawing, writing
explore music, movement, and playmaking
identify numbers and count up to 100
add and subtract numbers up to 10
learn about family, school, and community members
study plants and animals, and identify certain materials (for example metal and wood) and their characteristics
First Grade
First graders build on their knowledge of words and math, including:
understanding place values and whole numbers
subtracting numbers up to 20
describing shapes
telling time
identifying and comparing animals of different shapes, sizes, and types
recognizing properties of solids, liquids, and gases
basic understanding of weather and seasonal change
exploring music and rhythm
Second Grade
Second graders advance reading and writing skills through a variety of texts while expanding math skills even further. Students begin to:
edit their own writing
ask “who, what, where, when, why, and how” questions about what they read
learn to solve math-based word problems
add and subtract numbers up to 100
work with fractions and units of measure, such as money
study NYC history, geography, and local government
explore basic earth science
Third Grade
Once in third grade, students learn how to express their ideas clearly while improving their mastery of math to include multiplication and division, students:
solve problems with multiplication and division of numbers up to 100
learn about world communities and cultures for the first time
gain a better understanding of sound and heat
study how animals and plants live and adapt to their surrounding environments
are expected to take NY State Math/ELA exams (Grades 3–8) for the first time
Fourth Grade
When students reach fourth grade, they:
identify themes or main ideas of texts, take notes, research, and organize information
solve multi-step, word-based math problems
add, subtract, and multiply fractions
measure angles, volume, mass, and time
study NY State history and government
learn more about animals, plants, natural environments, electricity, magnetism, and the ways that water, land, and air interact with one another
Fifth Grade
Students in the fifth grade—last grade before middle school—spend their time preparing for the curricula they will review in grades 6–8. Throughout this academic year, fifth graders:
build their vocabulary by reading more demanding books and learning new words
understand and use figurative language
explain and summarize texts while also sharing their own interpretations using evidence
study the use of decimals to the hundredth place
incorporate advanced fractions, geometry, measurements, and exponents
study world geography, Western cultures, early Western societies
learn more about earth science, including ecosystems
review positive health and nutrition practices
Source: NYC Department of Education