Reference for curriculum datasets in Knowledge Graph: courses, lessons, activities, assessments, and materials aligned to the K-12 curriculum ontology.
Content elements: The instructional materials that teachers and students engage with. The instructional content preserves the original curriculum’s hierarchy and sequencing.
Metadata: Contextual information that supports instructional decisions, sequencing, and coherence. Some metadata is inferred from the content, making implicit instructional dependencies explicit—so you can seamlessly analyze how concepts build over time.
By aligning curriculum datasets to Learning Commons’ K-12 curriculum ontology, we ensure that developers can query Knowledge Graph in a standardized way—without losing the distinctiveness of the original instructional design. Wherever harmonization was possible, we unified concepts; where uniqueness mattered, we preserved it.This transformation unlocks:
Interoperability: Different curricula datasets can integrate seamlessly with other learning platforms and datasets.
Scalability: We will apply this structure to additional curricula in the future, ensuring coherence across different instructional materials.
AI-Enhanced Instruction: Developers can query the data in a structured way, allowing AI-driven tools to provide more context-aware, pedagogically sound recommendations.
By structuring curriculum in a machine-actionable format, content is more accessible—laying the groundwork for a future where AI enhances, rather than obstructs, great teaching.The ontology creates a formal vocabulary that represents entities such as objects, events, or abstract ideas. By providing a structured representation of data, an ontology enables machines to interpret, integrate, and reason about information more effectively. This ensures consistency, enhances interoperability across systems, and supports more precise data organization and retrieval.
The diagram shows the curriculum dataset only. StandardsFrameworkItem appears as a connection target for hasEducationalAlignment; its model is in Academic standards. InstructionalRoutine and ClassroomMaterial are curriculum entities; GlossaryTerm is used in references.Example (Illustrative Mathematics): A course is the root—e.g. IM Grade 2. A lesson grouping is a unit or module (e.g. Unit 3: Adding and Subtracting within 100); child lessons and materials attach through hasPart. A lesson is a single session (e.g. Lesson 1: How do we count collections?); activities attach through hasPart, an instructional routine such as Number Talks attaches through usesRoutine, prerequisites use hasDependency, and links to vocabulary use references (including to a GlossaryTerm). An activity might be a warm-up or practice task; alignment to a standard such as 2.NBT.B.5 uses hasEducationalAlignment. An assessment can align to standards and relate to another assessment through mutuallyExclusiveWith when two end-of-unit tests are equivalent alternatives.Edge list (source → relationship → target):
Course → hasPart → LessonGrouping | Material (e.g. IM Grade 2 → Unit 3)
LessonGrouping → hasPart → LessonGrouping | Lesson | Material (e.g. unit → lessons)
Curriculum is primarily expressed as the following entities:
Course: A structured sequence of lessons covering a subject or grade level.
LessonGrouping: A collection of lessons, such as a unit or module.
Lesson: A focused instructional session within a course.
Activity: A discrete instructional task within a lesson.
Assessment: A specific type of activity designed to evaluate student understanding.
Material : Representation of instructional content, such as readings, videos, or worksheets.
ClassroomMaterial : Physical tools or resources that support instruction but do not contain instructional content.
GlossaryTerm : Definitions of terms used across the curriculum.
InstructionalRoutine : Named pedagogical structures (e.g., Think-Pair-Share, Number Talks) that support consistent teaching practices and student engagement.
A course consists of a structured sequence of instructional content and activities, designed to teach specific skills, knowledge, or competencies over a defined period. It typically encompasses multiple LessonGrouping, Lesson, and Activity nodes, aligning with curriculum standards and intended learning objectives for a particular grade level or subject area.
A textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY). The statement specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms.
String
1
audience
Specifies the intended audience for a learning resource, indicating who the content is designed for or most relevant to.
A license document that applies to this content, typically indicated by URL.
String
1
lmsLoadingGuidance
Indicates the vendor’s guidance regarding whether this learning resource should be included when loading content into a Learning Management System (LMS). This property is advisory and may be overridden by local implementation policies. The value is selected from a controlled vocabulary.
{ "type": "node", "identifier": "im:dac57835-073f-52d9-9d63-d6b3b2cb6b55", "labels": ["Course"], "properties": { "dateCreated": "2021-04-30", "timeRequired": "P136D", "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "gradeLevel": "[\"2\",\"elementary_school\"]", "attributionStatement": "Knowledge Graph is provided by Learning Commons under the CC BY-4.0 license. Learning Commons received the scope and sequence of the Illustrative Mathematics 360 curriculum under CC BY-4.0 from Illustrative Mathematics.", "educationalUse": "instruction", "lmsLoadingGuidance": "unspecified", "description": "The big ideas in IM Grade 2 include: extending understanding of the base-ten number system;, building fluency with addition and subtraction; using standard units of measure; and describing and analyzing shapes. The materials, particularly units that focus on addition and subtraction, include problem types such as Add To, Take From, Put Together or Take Apart, Compare, Result Unknown, and so on. These problem types are based on common addition and subtraction situations, as outlined in Table 1 of the “Mathematics Glossary” section of the Common Core State Standards (NGA & CCSSO).\n", "identifier": "im:dac57835-073f-52d9-9d63-d6b3b2cb6b55", "provider": "Learning Commons", "name": "Grade 2", "inLanguage": "English", "courseCode": "im360:2", "audience": "[\"Teacher\",\"Student\",\"Family\"]", "author": "Illustrative Mathematics", "academicSubject": "Mathematics", "curriculumLabel": "Course", "publisherIdentifier": "482176" }}
A lesson grouping organizes a set of related lessons within a curriculum. The naming and level of this grouping may vary across publishers (e.g., Unit, Module, Chapter).
A textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY). The statement specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms.
String
1
audience
Specifies the intended audience for a learning resource, indicating who the content is designed for or most relevant to.
Whether the curriculum element is optional to complete.
Boolean
0..1
license
A license document that applies to this content, typically indicated by URL.
String
1
lmsLoadingGuidance
Indicates the vendor’s guidance regarding whether this learning resource should be included when loading content into a Learning Management System (LMS). This property is advisory and may be overridden by local implementation policies. The value is selected from a controlled vocabulary.
A label that combines the item’s sequence number with descriptive text to indicate its order and context within a larger structure (e.g., ‘Lesson 1’, ‘Chapter 2’).
String
0..1
position
The position of an item in a series or sequence of items.
Integer
0..1
provider
The service provider, service operator, or service performer.
String
0..1
providerDateCreated
The date on which the element was created by the provider.
Datetime
1
providerDateModified
The date on which the element was updated by the provider.
Datetime
1
publisherIdentifier
The ID assigned by the original publisher.
String
0..1
timeRequired
Approximate or typical time it usually takes to work with or through the content of this work for the typical or target audience.
A lesson represents a focused instructional session within a larger curriculum structure, such as a lesson grouping or course, designed to achieve specific learning objectives. It typically includes activities, discussions, and assessments, and is intended to be completed within a defined timeframe, such as a class period or session.
A textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY). The statement specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms.
String
1
audience
Specifies the intended audience for a learning resource, indicating who the content is designed for or most relevant to.
Whether the curriculum element is optional to complete
Boolean
0..1
license
A license document that applies to this content, typically indicated by URL.
String
1
lmsLoadingGuidance
Indicates the vendor’s guidance regarding whether this learning resource should be included when loading content into a Learning Management System (LMS). This property is advisory and may be overridden by local implementation policies. The value is selected from a controlled vocabulary.
A label that combines the item’s sequence number with descriptive text to indicate its order and context within a larger structure (e.g., ‘Lesson 1’, ‘Chapter 2’).
String
0..1
position
The position of an item in a series or sequence of items.
Integer
0..1
provider
The service provider, service operator, or service performer
String
0..1
providerDateCreated
The date on which the element was created by the provider
Datetime
1
providerDateModified
The date on which the element was updated by the provider
Datetime
1
publisherIdentifier
The ID assigned by the original publisher.
String
0..1
timeRequired
Approximate or typical time it usually takes to work with or through the content of this work for the typical or target audience.
A textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY). The statement specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms.
String
1
audience
Specifies the intended audience for a learning resource, indicating who the content is designed for or most relevant to.
Whether the curriculum element is optional to complete
Boolean
0..1
license
A license document that applies to this content, typically indicated by URL.
String
1
lmsLoadingGuidance
Indicates the vendor’s guidance regarding whether this learning resource should be included when loading content into a Learning Management System (LMS). This property is advisory and may be overridden by local implementation policies. The value is selected from a controlled vocabulary.
A label that combines the item’s sequence number with descriptive text to indicate its order and context within a larger structure (e.g., ‘Lesson 1’, ‘Chapter 2’).
String
0..1
position
The position of an item in a series or sequence of items.
Integer
0..1
provider
The service provider, service operator, or service performer
String
0..1
providerDateCreated
The date on which the element was created by the provider
Datetime
1
providerDateModified
The date on which the element was updated by the provider
Datetime
1
publisherIdentifier
The ID assigned by the original publisher.
String
0..1
studentGroupingType
Describes intended grouping structure for student participation in an activity, indicating how students should collaborate to achieve the educational objectives.
A textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY). The statement specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms.
String
1
audience
Specifies the intended audience for a learning resource, indicating who the content is designed for or most relevant to.
Whether the curriculum element is optional to complete
Boolean
0..1
license
A license document that applies to this content, typically indicated by URL.
String
1
lmsLoadingGuidance
Indicates the vendor’s guidance regarding whether this learning resource should be included when loading content into a Learning Management System (LMS). This property is advisory and may be overridden by local implementation policies. The value is selected from a controlled vocabulary.
The service provider, service operator, or service performer
String
0..1
providerDateCreated
The date on which the element was created by the provider
Datetime
1
providerDateModified
The date on which the element was updated by the provider
Datetime
1
publisherIdentifier
The ID assigned by the original publisher.
String
0..1
studentGroupingType
Describes intended grouping structure for student participation in an activity, indicating how students should collaborate to achieve the educational objectives.
An identifier or label distinguishing different forms of the same assessment, which may vary in item selection, sequencing, or difficulty while maintaining equivalent measurement intent
Instructional content—readings, videos, worksheets, images, or digital resources that support learning activities—is modeled as Material nodes in the graph.
A textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY). The statement specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms.
String
1
audience
Specifies the intended audience for a learning resource, indicating who the content is designed for or most relevant to.
A license document that applies to this content, typically indicated by URL.
String
1
materialType
A classification that indicates the role or purpose of a learning material within the educational context, describing how it is intended to support teaching and learning.
A label that combines the item’s sequence number with descriptive text to indicate its order and context within a larger structure (e.g., ‘Lesson 1’, ‘Chapter 2’).
String
0..1
provider
The service provider, service operator, or service performer
String
0..1
providerDateCreated
The date on which the element was created by the provider
Datetime
1
providerDateModified
The date on which the element was updated by the provider
Physical tools, supplies, or resources used to support instruction—but that do not themselves contain instructional content—are modeled as ClassroomMaterial nodes (e.g. manipulatives, lab equipment, or presentation tools).
A textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY). The statement specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms.
String
1
audience
Specifies the intended audience for a learning resource, indicating who the content is designed for or most relevant to.
A textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY). The statement specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms.
String
1
audience
Specifies the intended audience for a learning resource, indicating who the content is designed for or most relevant to.
Whether the curriculum element is optional to complete
Boolean
0..1
license
A license document that applies to this content, typically indicated by URL.
String
1
lmsLoadingGuidance
Indicates the vendor’s guidance regarding whether this learning resource should be included when loading content into a Learning Management System (LMS). This property is advisory and may be overridden by local implementation policies. The value is selected from a controlled vocabulary.
An instructional routine represents a structured, repeatable teaching strategy or pedagogical framework consistently employed within a curriculum to support instructional delivery and student engagement.
A textual credit that acknowledges the source or creator of a work, included when required by the content’s license (e.g., Creative Commons BY). The statement specifies how the creator should be attributed in accordance with the license terms.
String
1
audience
Specifies the intended audience for a learning resource, indicating who the content is designed for or most relevant to.
Whether the curriculum element is optional to complete
Boolean
0..1
license
A license document that applies to this content, typically indicated by URL.
String
1
lmsLoadingGuidance
Indicates the vendor’s guidance regarding whether this learning resource should be included when loading content into a Learning Management System (LMS). This property is advisory and may be overridden by local implementation policies. The value is selected from a controlled vocabulary.
Any relationships that relate to the Material, ClassroomMaterial, GlossaryTerm, and InstructionalRoutine entities are restricted and require prior approval. Contact support@learningcommons.org ↗ for information about access and eligibility.
A hasPart relationship connects a parent curriculum element to its constituent components, allowing hierarchical organization of instructional content. Structurally, a Course may connect to LessonGrouping or Material; a LessonGrouping may connect to nested LessonGrouping, Lesson, or Material; a Lesson may connect to Activity; and an Activity may connect to Material.
A hasEducationalAlignment relationship connects a curriculum element to one or more StandardsFrameworkItem nodes, specifying the academic standards, competencies, or learning goals that the element is intended to teach, assess, or support. This alignment applies across Course, LessonGrouping, Lesson, Activity, Assessment, and Material.(:Course|:LessonGrouping|:Lesson|:Activity|:Assessment|:Material)-[:hasEducationalAlignment]->(:StandardsFrameworkItem)
A usesRoutine relationship connects a curriculum element to one or more InstructionalRoutine nodes, representing structured, repeatable teaching strategies consistently employed to support instructional delivery and student engagement. This applies to Course, Lesson, and Activity.(:Course|:Lesson|:Activity)-[:usesRoutine]->(:InstructionalRoutine)
A uses relationship connects a curriculum element to one or more ClassroomMaterial nodes (e.g. handouts, manipulatives, or digital tools), which are necessary for delivery but do not themselves contain instructional content. This applies to Lesson and Activity.(:Lesson|:Activity)-[:uses]->(:ClassroomMaterial)
A hasDependency relationship connects a curriculum element to one or more prerequisite elements of the same type, indicating that prior knowledge, skills, or content must be addressed before the current element can be effectively taught or undertaken. This applies to LessonGrouping, Lesson, and Activity.
A references relationship connects a curriculum element to other instructional content or resources in a non-sequential way, highlighting connections that reinforce, revisit, or contextualize knowledge. This includes Lesson referencing prior Lesson or GlossaryTerm, Activity referencing Lesson, and Assessment referencing Lesson.
A mutuallyExclusiveWith relationship connects one Assessment to another, indicating that they are alternatives and should not both be administered due to overlap in content or intended purpose.(:Assessment)-[:mutuallyExclusiveWith]->(:Assessment)
