Elementary Curriculum Overviews

Norwood Public Schools (NPS) curriculum for K-5 students is aligned with the Massachusetts State Frameworks in Arts, English Language Arts and Literacy, English Language Development, Health, History and Social Science, Mathematics, and Science Technology Engineering. For more information on these state frameworks go here. Additionally, our vibrant library media program supports our core curriculum in many engaging ways. As the state updates its frameworks, NPS establishes committees to review and update its programs. This process is supported by the district’s annual budget for curriculum renewal. Our K-5 Curriculum Overviews are posted below.

Each grade level, Kindergarten through 5th grade, has developed a curriculum overview that provides a summary of what your student should know and be able to do by the end of their school year.  Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend their school's curriculum night in the fall and to speak with their student's teachers at any time throughout the year to find out in greater detail what is expected of students (e.g., in terms of homework and participation) and what they will be learning in each subject.

Kindergarten Curriculum Overview

Grade One Curriculum Overview

Grade Two Curriculum Overview

Grade Three Curriculum Overview

Grade Four Curriculum Overview

Grade Five Curriculum Overview

We use Open Circle as our social-emotional learning (SEL) program. The Open Circle Curriculum’s core lessons cover topics such as listening, calming down, speaking up, dealing with teasing, recognizing discrimination, expressing anger appropriately, reaching a consensus, and a six-step problem-solving process. Lessons are taught weekly for 15 to 30 minutes throughout the school year in the context of a class meeting known as Open Circle. The curriculum presents a consistent set of concepts across all grades, and these essential concepts are explored in greater depth and reinforced as students proceed from year to year, building a common vocabulary that is shared by the entire school community. Information and activities that involve parents will occasionally be sent home with the students.