Social Studies
The Social Studies domain builds on social and emotional development, starting with self-understanding and expanding to the understanding of others in home, school, and community contexts.Strand: “Through the social studies, children explore and ask questions about social systems, societal norms, and values affecting human relationships and interactions.”
Social and Emotional Development
The Social and Emotional Development domain reflects children’s emotional growth and ability to navigate social interactions.Strands: Skills include recognizing oneself as unique, understanding emotions, developing empathy, and building trusting relationships. Early social and emotional skills are foundational for long-term success in academics, employment, and relationships.
Science
The Science domain consists of one strand: “Research shows that children have an innate sense of scientific inquiry.” Foundational skills in exploration, investigation, and reasoning encourage engagement with earth, life, and physical sciences through activities tailored to children’s interests.
Physical Development and Wellness
The Physical Development and Wellness domain focuses on locomotor and non-locomotor skills and health practices.Strands: Skills develop through play and include large and small muscle development, self-care, nutrition, rest behaviors, and safety practices. These skills are essential for daily routines and overall development.
Mathematics
The Mathematics domain includes standards within the following strands: Children benefit from developmental experiences with counting, as numbers are central to all mathematics. Early mathematical ideas and skills support later learning and daily life, connecting with other domains like language and memory.
Language and Literacy
The Language and Literacy domain addresses language development, communication, and emergent literacy skills.Strands: Standards highlight early literacy skills such as speaking, listening, building vocabulary, understanding stories, sound awareness, alphabet recognition, and beginning writing. These skills develop through interactions with families, caregivers, and educators.
Creative Development
The Creative Development domain includes skills related to the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings through visual arts, dance, music, and dramatic play.Strands: The arts integrate skills from other domains (language, motor, executive function) and can demonstrate knowledge across domains. Research shows arts education positively impacts academic and lifelong success.
Cognitive Development
The Cognitive Development domain focuses on the ability to remember, organize, and use information in increasingly complex ways.Strands: Executive function skills included in this domain:
Approaches to Learning
Approaches to Learning covers behaviors and attitudes that impact how children engage in everyday experiences and complete tasks and activities.Strands: A growth mindset is the belief that “most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.” These standards are fundamental to children’s learning and development in all other domains because they affect how […]
