> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.learningcommons.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Core concepts > Learn how Knowledge Graph is built from entities and relationships with UUIDs, and how academic standards and curriculum datasets connect. ## How Knowledge Graph is structured | Concept | Definition | | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

[Entities](#entities)

| Each entity (or node) represents a distinct concept in the domain, such as an academic standard or learning component. These entities define the core elements of the dataset. | |

[Relationships](#relationships)

| Each relationship (or edge) represents a directed connection between two entities (or nodes). These relationships define how entities relate to one another within the graph.

Relationships are expressed as a triple:

Source entity's UUID
Relationship UUID
Target entity's UUID

| |

[UUID](#uuid)

| Every entity and relationship carries a UUID — these UUIDs link entities together in relationships. Conceptually, this is similar to how foreign keys are used to `JOIN` tables in a relational database.

UUIDs make it easy to deterministically join files, reference entities, and preserve links across datasets. It makes connections explicit without relying on schema-level constraints and avoids tight coupling to any one database system. Some UUIDs come from external sources such as the [CASE Network](https://casenetwork.1edtech.org/) ↗, which ensures interoperability. | |

[Dataset](#dataset)

| Thematic collection of related [entities](#entities) and [relationships](#relationships) that cover a specific educational domain, such as [U.S. academic standards](/knowledge-graph/datasets/standards/us-academic-standards) or [Math learning components](/knowledge-graph/datasets/learning-components/math-learning-components)

Datasets share a unified schema and can reference entities across one another (e.g., learning components align to specific academic standards). | ## What Knowledge Graph contains Knowledge Graph is organized into thematic [datasets](/knowledge-graph/datasets). ### Standards The [U.S. academic standards](/knowledge-graph/datasets/standards/us-academic-standards) dataset represents official learning expectations as a hierarchy. The [U.S. academic standards crosswalks](/knowledge-graph/datasets/standards/us-academic-standards-crosswalks) dataset connects state standards to their closest matching CCSS standards. It measures how many [learning components](#learning-component) various [academic standards](#academic-standard) have in common in order to calculate a similarity score. | Concept | Definition | | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

[Standards frameworks](#standards-frameworks)

| Complete academic standards document published by an official body, such as a state department of education (e.g., *2023 North Dakota Mathematics Content Standards*); modeled as [`StandardsFramework`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframework) entities

Each standards framework serves as the root node that organizes all standards groups and individual academic standards within a given jurisdiction and subject. | |

[Standards groups](#standards-groups)

| Organizational groupings within a standards framework – i.e., domains, clusters, strands, or grade bands (e.g., *Operations and Algebraic Thinking* or *Number & Operations—Fractions*); modeled as [`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem) entities with a `normalizedStatementType` of **Standard Grouping** | |

[Academic standard](#academic-standard)

| Individual statement that specifies what students should know or be able to do at a given grade level (e.g., *3.NF.A.1*); modeled as [`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem) entities

Academic standards often connect to other datasets — e.g., they're [supported by learning components](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#supports) and [aligned with curriculum](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#haseducationalalignment). | | Concept | Definition | | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

[Standard alignment](#standard-alignment)

| An evidence-based match between a state academic standard and a Common Core standard based on shared Learning Components (e.g., *NY 3.NF.1* → *3.NF.A.1*).

Modeled as [`hasStandardAlignment`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#hasstandardalignment) relationships. Similarity is expressed with a Jaccard score and Learning Component counts — not as sequence or dependency. | |

[Jaccard score](#jaccard-score)

| A similarity score from 0.0 to 1.0 that measures how much a state standard and a Common Core standard overlap in Learning Components — 0.0 means no overlap and 1.0 means complete overlap.

Calculated as shared Learning Components ÷ total unique Learning Components, and stored as the `jaccard` property on [`hasStandardAlignment`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#hasstandardalignment) relationships. See [Understanding the Jaccard score](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#understanding-the-jaccard-score). | ### Learning components The [Math Learning Components](/knowledge-graph/datasets/learning-components/math-learning-components) and [ELA Learning Components](/knowledge-graph/datasets/learning-components/ela-learning-components) datasets represent granular skills or individual concepts that operate at the instructional level. They break broad [academic standards](#academic-standard) down into measurable, teachable parts. | Concept | Definition | | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

[Learning component](#learning-component)

| Single, well-defined skill or concept that students are expected to learn (e.g., *Use place value to add two two-digit numbers*); modeled as [`LearningComponent`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/learning-components#learningcomponent) entities

Learning components [`support`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/learning-components#supports) one or more [academic standards](#academic-standard). | ### Learning progressions The [Math Coherence Map](/knowledge-graph/datasets/learning-progressions/math-coherence-map) dataset represents how students traverse learning paths to develop understanding over time. It connects [academic standards](#academic-standard) through directional [`buildsTowards`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/learning-progressions#buildstowards) relationships. | Concept | Definition | | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

[Prerequisite standard](#prerequisite-standard)

| An academic standard whose proficiency supports the likelihood of success in a later standard (e.g., *3.OA.A.1* is a prerequisite for *4.NBT.B.5*).

In a [`buildsTowards`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/learning-progressions#buildstowards) relationship, this is the source [`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem). | |

[Successor standard](#standard-that-a-standard-builds-towards)

| An academic standard that students are progressing toward after gaining proficiency in an earlier standard (e.g., *4.NBT.B.5* is a standard that *3.OA.A.1* builds towards).

In a [`buildsTowards`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/learning-progressions#buildstowards) relationship, this is the target [`StandardsFrameworkItem`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#standardsframeworkitem). | ### Curriculum The [IM® v.360](/knowledge-graph/datasets/curriculum/im-v360) dataset contains curriculum scope and sequence. In the future, it will also include instructional (e.g., [lessons](#lesson), [activities](#activity), [materials](#material)) and [assessment](#assessment) materials as structured metadata. Any curriculum entity can connect to an academic standard through the [`hasEducationalAlignment`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/standards#haseducationalalignment) relationship (e.g., a `Lesson` may point to a `StandardsFrameworkItem` such as `3.NF.A.1` with `alignmentType: teaches`, indicating that the lesson teaches that standard). | Concept | Definition | | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |

[Course](#course)

| Structured sequence of instructional content designed to teach specific skills or knowledge over a defined period (e.g., *Illustrative Mathematics® Grade 2*); modeled as [`Course`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/curriculum#course) entities | |

[Lesson grouping](#lesson-grouping)

| Grouping of lessons within a course, such as a unit, module, or section (e.g., *Unit 3: Adding and Subtracting within 100*); modeled as [`LessonGrouping`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/curriculum#lessongrouping) entities | |

[Lesson](#lesson)

| Single teachable unit within a lesson grouping, typically covering 1 class session and made up of one or more activities; modeled as [`Lesson`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/curriculum#lesson) entities | |

[Activity](#activity)

| Smallest instructional unit (e.g., warm-up, task, exit ticket, or discussion) that a teacher or student engages with inside a lesson; modeled as [`Activity`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/curriculum#activity) entities | |

[Assessment](#assessment)

| Evaluation of a student's mastery of knowledge, skills, or competencies through structured tasks or questions; modeled as [`Assessment`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/curriculum#assessment) entities | |

[Material](#material)

| Instructional content (e.g., readings, videos, worksheets, images, or digital resources) that supports learning activities; modeled as [`Material`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/curriculum#material) entities | ### Instructional guidance The [Learner Variability Navigator](/knowledge-graph/datasets/instructional-guidance/learner-variability-navigator) dataset connects student context and learning goals to research-backed instructional practices. | Concept | Definition | | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | |

[Learner model](#learner-model)

| Grade band and academic subject pair that describes a specific learner profile (e.g., *Math 3–6* or *Literacy 4–6*); modeled as [`LearnerModel`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/instructional-guidance#learnermodel) entities

Each learner model has relevant [factors](#factor) and [strategies](#strategy) that help contextualize what’s important for student success for that grade and subject. | |

[Factor](#factor)

| Research-backed characteristic that influences learning or performance (e.g., *Working memory* or *Algebraic reasoning*); modeled as [`Factor`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/instructional-guidance#factor) entities

Factors can [`interact with`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/instructional-guidance#interactswithfactor) other factors and may be [`relevant to`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/instructional-guidance#relevanttostandard) specific [academic standards](#academic-standard). | |

[Strategy](#strategy)

| Instructional practice that supports learning for a variety of [factors](#factor) and [learner models](#learner-model) (e.g., *Peer teaching*); modeled as [`Strategy`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/instructional-guidance#strategy) entities

Strategies [`target`](/knowledge-graph/schema-reference/instructional-guidance#targetsfactor) one or more factors they support or improve. | ## Related topics Review entities, relationships, and property definitions for Academic Standards. Review entities, relationships, and property definitions for Learning Components. Review entities, relationships, and property definitions for Learning Progressions. Review entities, relationships, and property definitions for Curriculum. Review entities, relationships, and property definitions for Instructional guidance.