table of Contents
- Art & Design
- Business Education (Grades 9-12)
- Career & Technical Education
- Engineering Technology (Grades 6-12)
- English
- Family & Consumer Science (Grades 6-12)
- Mathematics
- Music
- Physical Education/Health
- Science
- Social Studies
- World Languages (Grades 6-12)
Our Curriculum
Understand what students are learning in the classroom with a brief overview of their curriculum.
Art & Design
K-5 Curriculum
Our K-5 art program develops students as creative thinkers and visual communicators by building skills in art-making, visual analysis, and artistic reflection.
Students engage in work that spans a variety of media, techniques and art historical contexts, including:
- Drawing, painting, printmaking and collage.
- Sculpture, clay and three-dimensional construction.
- Sculpture and three-dimensional construction.
- Exploration of color, line, shape, texture and form as elements of visual design.
- Art history and cultural connections, examining works from diverse artists and traditions.
- Critique and reflection, developing students’ ability to discuss and evaluate their own work and the work of others.
6-8 Curriculum
The Middle School Art & Design Program offers a sequential curriculum that builds essential skills. Students maintain sketchbooks throughout the program, practicing skills, problem solving, and techniques. Students are exposed to a variety of artists, cultures, and media. Our goal is to prepare students for the High School art and design program and instill a lifelong appreciation of and interest in the arts.
- Students in grade 6 meet for art daily for one semester.
- Students in grade 7 meet for art every other day for one quarter.
- Students in grade 8 meet for art every other day for one quarter.
9-12 Curriculum
Business Education (Grades 9-12)
9-12 Curriculum
Career & Technical Education
9-12 Curriculum
Engineering Technology (Grades 6-12)
6-8 Curriculum
Middle school technology education is an investigative, activity-based program. Students are asked to solve technical problems through the gathering of information, the development of solutions, and the creation of a plan to solve the problem. Seventh grade technology is a foundation course that develops student’s technical literacy through design, invention, and innovation through the study of how technological solutions impact society and the environment. Eighth grade technology revolves around a systems approach to the creation, monitoring, and modification of technical systems.
9-12 Curriculum
English
English Language Arts (ELA) instruction at Niskayuna is grounded in the New York State Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards and encompasses reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language development. Our approach balances explicit, structured instruction with rich, authentic literacy experiences across all grade levels.
K-2 Curriculum
Teachers design lessons and units that integrate whole group, small group, and individualized instruction to meet the needs of every learner. Core components of our ELA program include:
- Foundational literacy skills: phonological awareness, phonics, decoding and fluency.
- Vocabulary development and academic language instruction.
- Reading comprehension strategy instruction across literary and informational texts.
- Writing instruction includes encoding, writing across multiple genres and writing for different purposes (to inform, persuade or entertain).
- Speaking and listening skills embedded throughout instruction.
3-5 Curriculum
In grades 3–5 Niskayuna uses Benchmark Advance, a comprehensive, research-based ELA curriculum that supports our vision of developing confident, capable readers and writers.
- Standards-Aligned and Rigorous – Every unit is built around the NYS Next Generation ELA standards, engaging students with complex texts and grade-level expectations through structured, scaffolded instruction.
- Comprehensive Literacy Development – Integrated units address reading comprehension, writing craft, vocabulary, grammar and foundational skills in a coherent, connected approach.
- Rich and Diverse Texts – Students engage with high-quality literary and informational texts that reflect a wide range of voices, cultures and perspectives, building both knowledge and empathy.
- Explicit and Scaffolded Instruction – Lessons provide clear modeling and guided practice, with flexible supports to ensure access for all learners, including multilingual learners and students with disabilities.
- Writing Across Genres – Students develop as writers through structured units that address narrative, informational, and opinion writing, with a focus on the craft and conventions of strong writing.
- Data-Informed Differentiation – Built-in assessment tools give teachers timely information to guide instruction and provide targeted support or extension as needed.
6-8 Curriculum
The ELA curriculum is guided by the Next Generation Learning Standards and includes instruction in reading, writing, speaking and listening. In reading, teachers focus on supporting students with comprehension and fluency through a balance of genres and a balance between instructional level and rigorous texts. In writing, teachers focus on supporting students with the writing process, writing across a variety of genres, using textual evidence in writing and discovering their voice as writers. For speaking/listening, teachers focus on supporting students with speaking in front of groups, formally and informally; listening to speakers, listening for comprehension. In addition to ELA instruction at all grade levels, students in grade 6 have a daily reading class.
9-12 Curriculum
- Review the English section of 2026-27 Program of Studies.
Family & Consumer Science (Grades 6-12)
6-8 Curriculum
Home and Careers is offered for 10 weeks in grades 6, 7 and 8. As a student progresses through middle school home and careers courses, each new course builds on the experiences of the previous year. Units of study include skills for adolescence, food preparation and nutrition, financial management and career exploration.
9-12 Curriculum
Mathematics
At Niskayuna Central School District, our mathematics program is guided by our vision of creating an equitable community of lifelong learners and our EPIC mission: to Empower, Persevere, Innovate, and Connect.
We believe that mathematical success is not measured by speed, but by depth of understanding and long-term growth. Our program focuses on enrolling each student in the courses that best support their individual needs and future aspirations. The right course selection builds confidence, resilience, and a genuine love of mathematics; qualities that serve students far beyond the classroom.
While we offer rigorous pathways including Honors and Advanced Placement courses, we recognize that mathematical excellence takes many forms. Some students thrive through acceleration, others develop profound mathematical thinking through different routes. Our commitment is to empower every learner to persevere through challenges, innovate in their problem-solving, and connect mathematical concepts to their world.
By honoring each student’s unique journey, we cultivate the critical thinking, adaptability, and growth mindset that define true lifelong learners. Our goal is not simply to advance students through content, but to inspire a lasting appreciation for mathematics and its power to shape their futures.
iReady Classroom Mathematics reflects our commitment that every student can succeed in mathematics when provided with responsive, high-quality instruction that builds both skill and confidence.
- View the complete K-12 Mathematics curriculum.
Music
K-5 Curriculum
General Music
Our goal is to develop each student as an active music-maker and an engaged, informed audience member. Students participate in a variety of musical experiences including singing, movement, dance, musical games, listening activities and playing classroom instruments such as mallet and rhythm instruments, recorders and world drums. All students in grade 4 and 5 also participate in choir.
Instrumental Music
Orchestra (Grades 4 and 5) – Beginning in grade 4, all students are offered the opportunity to study violin, viola, cello, or bass. Students who choose to participate receive one 30-minute group lesson per week during the school day. Fourth and fifth grade string players are combined for concerts which provide meaningful performance opportunities for developing musicians. Students who played a string instrument in grade 4 are encouraged to continue in grade 5, where the program builds on and extends their foundational skills.
Band (Grade 5)
Grade 5 students who are not enrolled in orchestra are offered the opportunity to study a band instrument. Students receive one 30-minute group lesson per week during the school day and participate in concerts, where they perform together in a large ensemble setting.
6-8 Curriculum
General Music
All students in grades 6-8 receive 10 weeks of instruction in general music each year. Students participate in class through a ‘hands-on’ approach that includes the use of Chromebooks and MIDI keyboards. Our curriculum focuses on music theory and literacy, history, composition and musical theater. It accommodates various musical backgrounds and skill levels, allowing all students to be simultaneously engaged. Cooperative learning among students is encouraged. Students in grade 8 also explore music through the use of the acoustic guitar.
In addition to general music, all students in grades 6, 7 and 8 have the opportunity to participate in bands, choirs and orchestras.
Performing Ensembles
Our middle school music department offers three “core” ensembles – band, choir and orchestra. Core ensembles meet during the regular school day. Students may enroll in band, choir or orchestra alone, or band and choir, or orchestra and choir.
- Core Ensembles
- Grade 6 – Band, Orchestra, Choir
- Grade 7 – Band, Orchestra, Choir
- Grade 8 – Band, Orchestra, Choir
- Select Ensembles: Students may audition for select ensembles in the spring for the following school year.
- Chamber Strings
- Jazz Ensemble
- Mezzo Voce
9-12 Curriculum
- Review the Music section of 2026-27 Program of Studies.
Physical Education/Health
The Physical Education and Health Education curriculum is designed to support students’ physical literacy, social-emotional well-being, and lifelong healthy habits from kindergarten through high school. Aligned with New York State Learning Standards, this sequential program guides elementary students (K–5) through foundational motor skills, cooperative games, and vital wellness units taught by classroom teachers and certified specialists.
As students transition into middle school (grades 6–8) at Van Antwerp and Iroquois, the curriculum deepens to address the unique emotional, nutritional, and social changes of early adolescence through structured health courses, evidence-based substance abuse prevention like “Project Alert,” and collaborative community partnerships. Together, these programs empower Niskayuna students with the practical skills, critical knowledge, and self-management tools necessary to navigate their personal development and maintain health-enhancing behaviors into adulthood.
- View the complete K-12 Physical Education/Health curriculum.
Science
Science instruction at Niskayuna is aligned to the New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS). Students learn science by doing science – engaging in hands-on investigations, developing and testing explanations, and building understanding of disciplinary core ideas in life, earth, and physical science.
K-5 Curriculum
- Kindergarten: Plant and Animal Needs, Weather and Severe Weather, Forces and Motion.
- Grade 1: Animal and Plant Survival, Patterns of the Sun and Moon, Light, Sound and Materials.
- Grade 2: Plant Growth and Habitats, Land and Water on Earth, Properties of Solids and Liquids.
- Grade 3: Traits and Heredity, Weather and Climate, Patterns of Motion.
- Grade 4: Animal Senses and Communication, Earth’s Changing Surface, Energy Transfer.
- Grade 5: Ecosystems and Change, Earth, Space, and Navigation, Properties of Matter.
6-8 Curriculum
Science instruction in grades 6–8 is aligned to the New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS) and is organized around three distinct, discipline-focused courses that build on the phenomena-based, three-dimensional learning students experience in elementary school.
Across all three grade levels, science instruction emphasizes student-driven investigation, scientific argumentation and real-world problem-solving consistent with the NYSSLS framework.
- Grade 6: Students engage in Earth and Space Science, exploring the systems of our planet and beyond, including weather and climate, Earth’s history, plate tectonics and the solar system.
- Grade 7: Students shift to Physical Science, investigating the properties of matter, chemical and physical changes, forces and motion and energy transfer.
- Grade 8: Students study Life Science, examining cells, genetics, ecosystems, and evolution. Students who have demonstrated readiness are offered the opportunity to enroll in Accelerated Life Science: Biology, a high school-level course that provides a rigorous, college-preparatory introduction to biological concepts and fulfills the Regents Biology requirement.
9-12 Curriculum
- Review the Science section of 2026-27 Program of Studies.
Social Studies
Social Studies instruction allows students to develop knowledge and skills across the disciplines of history, geography, economics, and civics, building an understanding of themselves, their communities, and the broader world.
K-5 Curriculum
- Kindergarten: All About Me, All About My Family, My Classroom Community, Holidays and Traditions.
- Grade 1: Families, Traditions and Communities, Economics, Geography Skills.
- Grade 2: Communities, Geography Skills, Citizenship
- Grade 3: Geography Skills, Countries.
- Grade 4: NYS History and Government, Geography Skills.
- Grade 5: Western Hemisphere, National Government, Geography Skills.
6-8 Curriculum
The social studies curriculum meets the NYS Social Studies Framework and five learning standards. Students study world civilizations and the Eastern Hemisphere (6th grade), U.S. history I (7th grade) and U.S. history II (8th grade).
9-12 Curriculum
World Languages (Grades 6-12)
6-8 Curriculum
Students can choose to study French or Spanish beginning in sixth grade. Grade 6 foreign language is a semester class (20 weeks) and 7th and 8th grade students take a full year of foreign language. Eighth grade language is the Level I high school course, and at the end of the year, students take a local proficiency exam that fulfills their high school language requirement. At the end of eighth grade instruction, teachers will recommend students for language I, II, or II H in high school.