Process of Curriculum Alignment
with Minnesota State Standards
1. Articulate your existing curriculum by creating a curriculum map for social studies and for science that shows all
grade levels.
2. Read through the Minnesota State Standards and familiarize yourself with the strands and benchmarks (Look for
ways they are connected)
Social Studies Strands
I.
History of United States
II.
World History
III.
Minnesota History
IV.
Historical Skills
V.
Geography
VI.
Economics
VII. Government and Citizenship
Science
I.
II.
III.
IV.
History and Nature of Science
Physical Science
Earth and Space Science
Life Science
3. Coordinate the standards with the existing curriculum as much as possible aligning benchmarks with
• instructional strategies
• student activities
• assessment tools
4. Consider Project-based instruction as a way to integrate curriculum and incorporate all standards into meaningful
learning activities
5. Align the benchmarks, instructional strategies, resources and assessments
6. Determine a working timeline for length of units for pacing purposes
7. Develop a scope and sequence that aligns curriculum for all grade levels in your school.
(Explanation of Nerstrand’s document format)
Nerstrand Elementary School
Curriculum Document Format
1. List the Unit of Study
2. Name the Strand
3. List the Sub-strands of the standards covered
Standard
Tells what student should learn*
Benchmarks
Tells what students will do to reach the standards*
Teaching
Strategies
Resources
Instruction processes
Assessments
Ways to measure student progress and evaluate instruction
strategies
Technology
Use of computer and audio-video devices
Significant Tasks
and Projects
The “things” students will do to demonstrate mastery of
benchmarks – these are assessed
Materials such as literature books, videos, guest speakers
*In the document, the chart is followed by
• Assessment Rubric/Checklist
• Significant Task forms and resources
Document Key: Areas highlighted in yellow are “musts”.
In Savannah (grades 1-3)
Standards are in italics
First grade is in Times New Roman
Second grade is in Times New Roman and is underlined
Third grade is in Times New Roman, bold and underlined.
In Woodlands (grades 4-5)
Standards are in italics
Fourth grade is in Times New Roman
Fifth grade is in Times New Roman and is underlined
Organizational format for Curriculum Alignment
1. Target population (Grade Level/Multiage group)
2. Unit topic
3. Standard Strands Addressed
Standard
Outcomes
Benchmarks
Learner
Activities
Teaching
Strategies
Resources
Assessments
Significant
tasks
and
Projectbased
Learning
Directions for Significant Tasks/Project-Based Learning
Rubric
Standards addressed
Significant tasks
1.
2.
3.
Score of
1.
Student
shows little
understanding
in this area
Score of
2.
Student
shows some
understanding
in this area
Benchmark #1
Benchmark #2
Benchmark #3
Benchmark #4
Benchmark #5
(Followed by the directions for Significant Tasks/Project-Based Learning)
Score of
3.
Student
shows good
understanding
in this area.
Science Curriculum Map
Strands:
I. History
and Nature of
Science
II. Physical
Science
III. Earth and
Space
Science
IV. Life
Science
Environmental
Science
(Service
Learning)
Kindergarten
Gr.1-3 Multiage Yr. 1
(or grade 1)
Gr.1-3Multiage Yr. 2
(or grade 2)
Gr.1-3Multiage Yr. 3
(or grade 3)
Gr.4/5Multiage Yr. 1
(or grade 4)
Gr.4/5Multiage Yr.
(or grade 5)
Social Studies Curriculum Map
Kindergarten
Gr. 1-3 Multiage Yr. 1
(or first grade)
Gr. 1-3 Multiage Yr. 2
(or second grade)
Gr. 1-3 Multiage Yr. 3
(or third grade)
Gr. 4/5 Woodland Yr. 1
(or fourth grade)
Gr. 4/5 Woodland Yr. 2
(or fifth grade)