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 Material, ClassroomMaterial, GlossaryTerm, and InstructionalRoutine entities are only available to those participating in the private beta.
Curriculum is primarily expressed as the following entities:
Courses: A structured sequence of lessons covering a subject or grade level.
Lessongroupings: A collection of lessons, such as a unit or module.
Lessons: A focused instructional session within a course.
Activities: A discrete instructional task within a lesson.
Assessments: A specific type of activity designed to evaluate student understanding.
MaterialsBeta : Representation of instructional content, such as readings, videos, or worksheets.
Classroom materialsBeta : Physical tools or resources that support instruction but do not contain instructional content.
Glossary termsBeta : Definitions of terms used across the curriculum.
Instructional routinesBeta : 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 LessonGroupings, Lessons, and Activities, 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" }}
A LessonGrouping 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
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 LessonGrouping 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
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
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
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
Materials represent instructional content (such as readings, videos, worksheets, images, or digital resources) that support learning activities within a curriculum.
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
ClassroomMaterials represent physical tools, supplies, or resources used to support instruction but do not themselves contain instructional content. (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 InstructionalRoutine 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 only available to those participating in the private beta.
A hasPart relationship connects a parent curriculum element to its constituent components, allowing hierarchical organization of instructional content. This includes Courses containing LessonGroupings or Materials, LessonGroupings containing Lessons, nested LessonGroupings, or Materials, Lessons containing Activities, and Activities containing Materials.
A hasEducationalAlignment relationship connects a curriculum element to one or more StandardsFrameworkItems, specifying the academic standards, competencies, or learning goals that the element is intended to teach, assess, or support. This alignment applies across Courses, LessonGroupings, Lessons, Activities, Assessments, and Materials.(:Course|:LessonGrouping|:Lesson|:Activity|:Assessment|:Material)-[:hasEducationalAlignment]->(:StandardsFrameworkItem)
A usesRoutine relationship connects a curriculum element to one or more InstructionalRoutines, representing structured, repeatable teaching strategies consistently employed to support instructional delivery and student engagement. This applies to Courses, Lessons, and Activities.(:Course|:Lesson|:Activity)-[:usesRoutine]->(:InstructionalRoutine)
A uses relationship connects a curriculum element to one or more ClassroomMaterials, such as handouts, manipulatives, or digital tools, which are necessary for delivery but do not themselves contain instructional content. This applies to Lessons and Activities.(: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 LessonGroupings, Lessons, and Activities.
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 Lessons referencing prior Lessons or GlossaryTerms, Activities referencing Lessons, and Assessments referencing Lessons.
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)
