Curriculum
Our Mission
To provide students with knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be lifelong learners and responsible citizens.
The Arizona Department of Education provides the academic standards that we teach. CUSD has broken those standards into performance objectives so that students can demonstrate benchmark competencies. This progress is monitored quarterly. In addition to language arts and mathematics objectives, science and social studies are regular parts of the curriculum. Students receive physical education weekly and participate in general music, library and technology classes. Fifth and sixth grade students may take band or orchestra in lieu of general music.
View CUSD Curriculum and State Standards by content area
The curriculum in the Chandler Unified School District and at Sanborn Elementary is aligned to the Arizona State Standards. Performance objectives are identified for each strand and concept and progress is monitored quarterly. In addition to language arts and math objectives, science and social studies are regular parts of the curriculum.
Math
All students in grades K-5 use McGraw-Hill, My Math textbooks to assist in the understanding of mathematics concepts. Grade 6 students use the Glencoe Math, Course 1 textbook. Math and science are often integrated together to bring a stronger relevance to students' understanding.
Reading
All K-5 students use the HMH "Into Reading" Program and 6th grade uses "My Perspectives" as a resource for literature. In addition, quality children’s literature at a variety of reading levels is used in the classroom for instruction.
Social Studies and Science
All K-6 students use the Science/ Social Studies Integration road maps to learn Social Studies and Science concepts.
STEM/STEAM
Sanborn uses Defined STEM to supplement our science instruction and create hands-on learning opportunities for our students. Defined STEM is a web-based application designed to promote rigorous and relevant connections between classroom content, highlighting STEM content and real-world applications including career pathways, thus providing learning opportunities for students. Defined STEM provides teachers a resource where they can access highly effective media content and valuable resources to enhance the teaching and learning within the classroom. These resources and materials allow teachers to connect STEM with existing lessons, interdisciplinary content, and standards-based curriculum.
Art Masterpiece
Art Masterpiece is a volunteer run enrichment program designed to promote art literacy to children. Volunteers called “Art Guides” explain the basic concepts using examples of a particular artist each month, then guide the students in an activity that allows them to demonstrate and practice the concepts in a fun and creative way.
You do not have to be an art historian or former teacher to get involved in this wonderful program. Art Guides receive training in how to use the lesson plans, guide the activities and best present the concepts to each grade level as well as support and advice from other guides. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or just receiving more information, please contact the front office.
Thinking Maps
In order to increase the rigor and incorporate more critical thinking skills into our daily curriculum, we are implementing a program called Thinking Maps. A man named Dr. David Hyerle synthesized research on cognitive skills development and in turn, identified eight fundamental thinking skills and how they work together within the learning process. In clearly defining these eight thinking skills, students become aware of the thinking that is driving their learning and can use this awareness to think about their thinking (metacognition) in order to improve their performance. The Thinking Maps program associates each of the eight cognitive skills to a unique and dynamic visual representation as our ability to learn visually is greater than with any of our other senses. These maps can be used as a tool set for supporting effective instructional practice that teaches students how to move from concrete to abstract concepts, think with depth, and directly apply their thinking to more complex and intellectually demanding tasks across subject areas.