The Ontario Curriculum: Elementary

The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: The Arts, 2009 (revised)

This document replaces The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: The Arts, 1998. Beginning in September 2009, all arts programs for Grades 1 to 8 will be based on the expectations outlined in this document.

• PDF Format (2 MB)
• Plain Text Format (608 KB)

• Aboriginal Perspectives: A Guide To The Teacher's Toolkit
• Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow: A Policy Framework for Environmental Education in Ontario Schools (2009)
• Creating Pathways to Success, An Education and Career/Life Planning Program for Ontario Schools: Policy and Program Requirements, Kindergarten to Grade 12, 2013
• English Language Learners / ESL and ELD Programs and Services: Policies and Procedures for Ontario Elementary and Secondary Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 12, 2007
• Environmental Education: Scope and Sequence of Expectations, 2011
• Equity and Inclusive Education in Ontario Schools: Guidelines for Policy Development and Implementation (PDF, 3.3 MB)
• Financial Literacy; Scope and Sequence of Expectations, Grades 4-8, 2011
• First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Connections – Scope and Sequence of Expectations – Resource Guide, Grades 1-8 and Kindergarten Program, 2014 (PDF, 865 KB)
• A Framework For French as a Second Language in Ontario Schools: Kindergarten to Grade 12, 2013
• Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting in Ontario Schools, First Edition, Covering Grades 1 to 12, 2010
• Individual Education Plans: Standards for Development, Program Planning, and Implementation, 2000
• Ontario Schools Kindergarten to Grade 12: Policy and Program Requirements, 2011
• Ontario Student Record (OSR) Guideline, 2000
• The Ontario Student Transcript (OST) Manual, 2013
• Pathways for success – Samples timetables for supporting students at risk, 2003 (PDF, 221 KB)
• Policy/Program Memoranda
• The Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct, 2012
• Provincial Model for a Local Police/School Board Protocol, 2011
• Ready, Set, Green! Tips, Techniques and Resources from Ontario Educators, 2007
• Supervised Alternative Learning: Policy and Implementation
• Supporting English language learners: A practical guide for Ontario educators Grades 1 to 8, 2008
• Standards for School Boards' Special Education Plans, 2000
• The Trillium List
• Who's Responsible for Your Child's Education?

• What is the role of the Ministry of Education in curriculum development?

  The Ministry of Education is responsible for the development of curriculum. School boards and schools are responsible for the implementation of curriculum.

  To develop the curriculum, the Ministry of Education established a curriculum review cycle to ensure that the curriculum remains current, relevant, and developmentally-appropriate from Kindergarten to Grade 12. See question: what is the review process?

• What are curriculum documents?

  Curriculum policy documents identify what students must know and be able to do at the end of every grade or course in every subject in Ontario publicly funded schools.

  Curriculum documents are made up of three components:

  • The front matter provides critical foundational information about the curriculum itself and about how learning connects to Ministry of Education policies, programs, and priorities.
  • The curriculum expectations (overall and specific expectations) are the knowledge and skills that students are expected to demonstrate in each subject at each grade level by the end of the grade.
  • Additional supports, glossaries and overviews are included to provide further guidance and information to support the implementation of the curriculum.
• What are policy and resource documents?

  Policy documents outline mandatory requirements and standards. In the case of education, The Ontario Curriculum, Social Studies, Grades 1 to 6; History and Geography, Grades 7 and 8, 2013 (revised) is an example of a curriculum policy document. It sets out what the public can expect children to learn in Ontario's elementary Social Studies, History and Geography program.

  Resource documents support implementation of policy and their use is a local decision. An example of a resource document is: Environmental Education, Scope and Sequence of Expectations, Grades 1-8, 2011.

• What is the review process?

  Curriculum Review Process

  • In Ontario, the Ministry of Education is responsible for the development of curriculum policy documents.
  • In 2003, the Ministry established an ongoing cycle of curriculum review.
  • The review is not a development of a completely new curriculum, but is intended to ensure that the curriculum remains current and relevant and is developmentally appropriate from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in all subjects.
  • A number of subject disciplines have entered the review process each year.
  • The review supports students, teachers, schools and boards by identifying targeted areas in need of support and allows lead time for development or updating of related support materials as required.
  Research
  The Curriculum Review process is a research-based and evidence-informed process that begins with third party research and benchmarking of the Ontario curriculum against curricula from across Canada and around the world.
  
  Analysis and Synthesis
  Teams of experts in the subject discipline from across the province analyze the current curriculum against the desired state for the revised curriculum. All information gathered from experts, focus groups, consultations, research and benchmarking is synthesized and directions for revision writing are identified.
  
  Revision and Feedback Consultation
  A draft, reflecting revised expectations and examples based on analysis and synthesis and that reflects current direction in the discipline, is developed. Sessions are held to gather input via a variety of opportunities, including face to face and web enabled sessions.
  
  Editing and Publication
  Experts in the subject discipline review the manuscript to ensure academic accuracy. Final reviews for bias, equity and inclusive education, First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspectives, environmental education, and financial literacy occur to ensure that the manuscript is inclusive and reflects the direction of the Ministry of Education.
  
  Editing of the proposed draft revisions is done by professional editors. As needed, small targeted revision writing teams refine the proposed draft and focused consultation on final revisions may also be held.
  
  Training and Implementation
  Once released, board teams and stakeholders are invited to implementation learning sessions about the revised curriculum. Resources are developed to support board training and implementation specific to the revised curriculum. These sessions ensure common understanding and consistent messages about curriculum revisions and expectations for implementation.
  
• What is the status of recently revised elementary curricula?
  • The following revised curricula were published in 2013. Teachers began using them in the 2013-14 school year with mandatory implementation required in September, 2014.
    • Social Studies, Grades 1 to 6; History and Geography, Grades 7 and 8
    • French as a Second Language (Core, Extended and Immersion French), Grades 1-8
• What elementary curricula are currently in the review cycle?
  • Native Languages, Grades 1-8
• What is the Curriculum Council?

  In March 2007, a group of knowledgeable and committed community leaders was brought together to advise the minister of education. They provide high level strategic advice on issues related to elementary and secondary school curriculum. For more information, visit the Curriculum Council website.