Three Oaks Elementary is the Nation’s First Core Knowledge School! In addition to the School District of Lee County’s reading, math, and science curriculums, we utilize Core Knowledge. Founded by E.D. Hirsh Jr., the author of Cultural Literacy, Core Knowledge is a solid, specific, shared core curriculum that helps children establish strong foundations of knowledge in language arts, history and geography, mathematics, science, art, and music. The Core Knowledge program is designed to give students a rich and common knowledge base. Core Knowledge increases knowledge about a breadth of subjects, which is key to developing real critical thinking skills in our students.
The curriculum spirals from one grade level to the next, building on prior knowledge, but increasing in rigor and skill. For example, Kindergarteners will learn about Colonial Towns and Town people then move on through the grades to learn about: Frontier Explorers, Westward Expansion, Early Explorations of North America & Colonial America, in 4th grade The American Revolution, then come full circle in 5th grade with and in depth study of Native Americans.
Reading research has proven that increasing a student’s contextual vocabulary is key to helping them become proficient and accomplished readers and learners. The vocabulary that students are exposed to in our Core Knowledge curriculum helps with just that, while also building their awareness of the world around them.
https://www.coreknowledge.org/our-approach/core-knowledge-sequence/