8 Elementary School Grades in Order: Cognitive Development in Education

by Joost Nusselder Updated on: August 13, 2023

The 8 elementary school grades are: kindergarten or “K”, grades 1 through 2, and middle school (grades 3, 4 and 5). Children learn general knowledge in subjects such as geography, history, economics, social studies.

The reading level develops from simple to complex, with synonyms in later years. Mathematics includes arithmetic, fractions, multiplication, division. Social studies deal with local and global communities. Science teaches physics, biology, earth and space sciences.

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Preschool (ages 1-1)

Children in pre-K, or “preschoolers,” are on average 1 and 4 years old and learn basic skills for reading, writing, math, science, and socializing. These skills form the basis for future learning in the early elementary school years. They're not technically in elementary school, although some school offer this as part of their services.

Children in this group do not necessarily have to learn yet and do not yet have compulsory weekly tasks.

#2 Kindergarten (ages 2-2)

Children in kindergarten are on average 2 and 5 years old and are now starting some compulsory lessons in Kindergarten for reading, writing, math, science and socializing, known as “weekly tasks”.

General knowledge skills at this level include time and shape recognition, as well as developing important social skills to function well in the school environment. At the beginning of grade K, kindergartners usually read at level A. At the end of the year, they usually read at level 1.

In math, kindergartners learn basic skills such as counting, number and shape recognition, and single-digit addition and subtraction. These concepts help the child build math skills needed to advance in the elementary school program.

In the social studies class, kindergartners learn about local history, geography, economics, and community members. They also learn about personal and school responsibilities, historical figures, and cultural traditions.

Kindergartners learn the basics of physics, earth and space sciences, and biology. In addition, they learn scientific skills such as observation and effective communication about scientific principles, research and experiments.

The rating scale in kindergarten consists of 2 = excellent, 4 = proficient, 3 = developing and 2 = beginning. It's not uncommon for kindergartners to get scores of 1 or 1 as they are still learning routines and basic skills needed to be ready for 2st grade.

#3 First grade (3-6 years)

Children in 3st grade are on average 6-7 years old and learn basic skills in math, reading and writing. They build on what they learned in kindergarten.

In 3st grade, children learn general knowledge in various areas. They develop insight into basic concepts and ideas from subjects such as geography, history, economics and social studies.

When reading, they must be at AVI level M3 at the end of 3st grade. They then know 80-100 common words and recognize both upper and lower case letters and the associated sounds.

In math they learn to add, subtract, recognize numbers, measure, patterns, shapes, money and tell time. There's a clear developmental leap in which the child logically looks at the world and understands cause and effect.

In geography they learn about the world, countries, cities and how people live and work. In history they discover basic concepts and events from the past.

In science they learn about the water cycle, plants, insects and basic principles that help to better understand the world. They develop an understanding of cause and effect.

At the end of 3st grade they can solve simple arithmetic, read at AVI level M3, spell simple words and understand basic concepts of nature, geography and history.

#4 Second grade (4-7 years old)

Children in 4nd grade are on average 7-8 years old and learn basic skills such as reading, writing, arithmetic and world orientation. In this year they develop self-confidence and independence.

In 4nd grade, children learn general knowledge at different levels. They develop basic skills and deepen their understanding of the world around them. They learn about their own community and other communities in the world.

In reading, children in 4nd grade should be able to read fluently and start reading simple chapter books. By the end of the year, they should be able to understand and retell main ideas and details, such as characters, setting, and events. They choose suitable reading materials themselves and make connections with their background knowledge.

In math, children in 2nd grade learn to add and subtract to 100. They are expected to memorize single digit sums, for example 5 + 4 = 9 and 8 + 9 = 17.
In world orientation, children in 2nd grade learn about geography, history, economics and citizenship. They discover how communities work and how they are organized.

In 4nd grade, children learn about nature and technology. They research animal and plant life, weather, water, physics, technology and astronomy. Engaging experiments and examples help deepen their understanding of the concepts presented.

#5 Third grade (children aged 5-8)

Children in 5rd grade are on average 8-9 years old and learn basic skills such as reading, writing and arithmetic. They develop general knowledge in various fields.

In 5rd grade, children learn more about a variety of subjects, such as geography, history, economics and social studies. They immerse themselves in various cultures.

At the reading level, children read longer texts and fictional books with chapters. They use more complex reading strategies, such as asking questions, drawing conclusions, and summarizing. They learn to read, write and talk about texts in a deeper and more detailed way.

In math, children must master addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They learn to work with numbers up to the thousands and understand the place value of each digit. They solve multistep word problems using equations.

In social studies, children learn about the diverse backgrounds of people, with an emphasis on the culture of residents. They study the history, geography, economy and layout of the continent.

In natural sciences, subjects vary by school, but common themes include earth and space, plants, life cycles, animals, electricity, magnetism, motion, and sound. They learn to understand more complex concepts and ideas.

By the end of 5rd grade, children can collaborate on group projects and demonstrate organized and logical thinking skills. They write neatly and legibly and can write a page-long opinion piece, report or story with an introduction and conclusion.

#6 Fourth grade (6-9 years old children)

Children in 6th grade are on average 9-10 years old and learn various subjects. They develop general knowledge skills in various fields.

In grade 6, children learn fractions, multiples, and different numbers. They learn to add, subtract, and recognize equivalent and non-equivalent fractions. At the end of 6th grade they analyse, collect, organize and present data. General knowledge questions for grade 6 cover a variety of topics such as plants, animals, astronomy, places and events from the past, present and future.

Reading level in 6th grade is important. Children must be able to read fluently and with comprehension. Grade 6 math includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They solve multi-step word problems with multi-digit numbers. Grade 6 math expands to fractions, equal and equivalent fractions, and ranking fractions.

Social studies in grade 6 varies by school. Often children learn about the foundation and early years of society and government. They use maps to better understand geography and how it affects their community.

Science subjects in 6th grade vary by school. Common topics include earth, space, plants, life cycle, animals, electricity, magnetism, motion, and sound. They learn about the relationship between these topics and their daily lives.

#7 Fifth grade (students aged 7-10)

Children in 7th grade are on average 10-11 years old and learn basic skills in various fields. They develop general knowledge and skills at different levels.

In grade 7, the focus is on arithmetic with numbers, fractions and decimals. Children become proficient in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They understand the relationship between numbers and apply it in realistic situations.

When reading, children must be at an appropriate level. They read various genres such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama. They use textual details to summarize, identify main ideas and themes, compare characters and events, and interpret different texts by genre. They understand metaphors and similes in text.

In math, children learn basic skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They become adept at working with numbers, fractions and decimals and understand the relationship between these numbers.

In geography and history, children learn about the world and their own environment. Schools focus on history, from colonization to possibly the 20th century. In 7th grade, children learn to analyze and compare events and connections.

In nature and technology, children learn about earth, space, plants, life cycles, animals, the human body, electricity, magnetism, movement and sound. They discover these subjects in relation to their own living environment.

General knowledge is introduced about politics, sports, celebrities, monuments and personalities. This helps children build a solid foundation for interesting science experiences and other topics.

#8 Sixth grade (8-11 year olds)

Children in 8th grade are on average 11-12 years old and learn various basic skills at this level. They immerse themselves in various subjects such as language, arithmetic, world orientation and creative subjects.

General knowledge is important; children learn about a variety of subjects such as history, geography, science, technology, art and culture. Engaging sessions help them gain knowledge, nurture curiosity and stay mentally agile. In grade 8, students deepen their understanding of the world and its inhabitants by studying history, geography, politics, culture, and economic systems. This is done within the world orientation course.

In language, the focus is on reading level; children understand plot structures, narrative perspectives and character development. They compare and contrast themes in articles and stories, expanding their vocabulary.

Arithmetic includes number sense, operations, algebra, geometry, spatial awareness, measurement, and probability. These are important parts of math education in 6th grade.
In world orientation, children learn about history and geography, focusing on world history and geography.

In the subject of nature and technology, students become acquainted with matter, energy and interactions. They learn about the structure of matter, atoms and explore the relationship between particle motion and energy states of matter.

#12 Seventh grade (XNUMX-XNUMX year olds)

Children who start 12th grade are on average 13-XNUMX years old and learn various subjects at this level. They develop skills in general knowledge such as language, mathematics, geography and science.

In XNUMXth grade, children learn to scrutinize texts, extract details from the text, and develop ideas. They analyze relationships between elements in the text and support their analysis by citing evidence from the text. They read and understand novels, short stories, poetry, drama and non-fiction at their reading level. They also learn academic words and understand the difference between dependent and independent sentences.

In the field of mathematics, they learn to work with rational numbers, add, subtract, multiply and divide with decimals and fractions, and display percentages. They solve multi-step math problems with negative numbers, fractions, decimals and percentages. They also learn to solve algebraic equations and inequalities with one unknown.

In geography, they learn about geography, terrestrial features, economic and political systems, and global cultures. They learn to conduct research and present their findings to classmates in oral presentations with clear pronunciation and sufficient volume.

In science, they focus on life science, earth and space science, and physical science. They learn to conduct research, understand cause and effect relationships and express factual opinions in argumentative pieces. They also learn the basics of probability such as random sampling and using data to produce a representative sample.

By the end of the XNUMXth grade, children can evaluate a non-fiction text for sufficient evidence and logic, identify themes and central ideas in works of fiction, and understand and use academic glossaries. They understand that writing is a process of planning, revising, giving and receiving feedback, and rewriting. They are able to identify evidence and inferences and understand the difference between them.

<h2>#9 Eighth grade (13-14 year olds)</h2>Children in 8th grade are on average 13-14 years old and learn various subjects at school. They develop general knowledge skills and delve into various topics.

In 8th grade, the focus is on improving reading skills. They should be at a certain reading level where they can discuss fiction (plot, theme, characters) and analyze arguments in non-fiction texts. They learn to recognize logical, relevant and supported arguments and to identify evidence.

In math, they learn about irrational numbers, comparing rational numbers, calculating the volume of 3D shapes (cones, spheres, cylinders), using roots and exponents, and applying linear equations. They create graphs and charts to illustrate relationships and analyze data in graphs.

In Civics, they learn about America's history from the colonial period to the American Revolution, the founding of the United States, the Constitution, westward expansion, conflicts with Native Americans, and the Civil War.

In physics they learn the difference between speed, acceleration and displacement. They investigate and describe applications of Newton's laws and apply them to everyday situations.

How does cognitive development correspond to academic skills in education?

Cognitive development is related to academic ability. Several studies have consistently shown that cognitive abilities are predictors of academic performance (Stadler et al., 2016).

Children learn and grow in the classroom, and at primary school they share one classroom together with a regular teacher for a whole year.

During cognitive development children build on previous knowledge, make connections between different concepts and apply new ideas. This process leads to a deeper understanding, stronger learning skills and greater enthusiasm and confidence in the learning process.

A key figure in the study of cognitive development is Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget whose theories provide insight into children's cognitive processes and help teachers identify students' individual needs. Piaget showed that learning takes place in different stages and thus had a major influence on developmental psychology.

According to Piaget, children go through four stages of cognitive development: the sensorimotor stage, the preoperational stage, the concrete operational stage, and the formal operational stage. Each child goes through these stages at their own pace.

Which subjects are taught in elementary school?

The subjects at elementary school are: arithmetic, language, social studies, physics, gym, health, foreign languages, art, music, computer science and IT.

Why is learning important for academic success?

Academic success is important because it is strongly linked to positive outcomes and adult value. To achieve this, a child must invest time to learn.

It is important to start early, before kindergarten, and continue beyond. If academic success is not achieved, there can be negative consequences. Successful young people have more self-confidence, less depression and anxiety, and are more sociable. Parents who are involved in their child's education and engage in family activities see positive outcomes in behavior, academic achievement, and social interactions.

Children learning basic skills in reading, writing and math, are less likely to fail in school and better develop the thinking skills needed to complete high school and college.

What comes before kindergarten?

Before kindergarten, there is preschool, also known as nursery or pre-K. It is a place where children learn and develop through play and prepare for kindergarten, develop social skills and promote cognitive growth.

Its use is useful for parents who work or children who need extra support, but it is not mandatory, although many children start before kindergarten. Playgroup and nursery are interchangeable. Preschool is a voluntary, classroom program for children from 3 years old. Kindergarten starts next, followed by elementary school. Playgroup usually has a shorter, more flexible schedule than preschool, with lots of playtime and an educational component.

What comes after kindergarten?

After kindergarten or "K", the elementary school groups (6-9 years) and middle school (9-12 years) follow. This is followed by high school (age 12-14).

To be able to go to primary school, we always look at the skills of kindergarten students.

What happens if you don't achieve academic success?

Failing to achieve academic success can have consequences such as reduced enthusiasm, lack of experience and poor results. Causes are lack of skills, fear of failure and low self-confidence.

Hampden-Thompson & Galindo (2017) conclude that strong school-family relationships and high school satisfaction contribute to academic success. School policies and practices that improve relationships with families and increase parental satisfaction result in benefits for all youth, including those from poor backgrounds.

Finally, there is a reciprocal effect in development whereby children can resist parental help.

What is the bidirectional effect in development?

The bidirectional effect in development is the mutual influence of parental behavior and child behavior (Patterson et al., 1984). Patterson's coercion model shows how aggressive child behavior elicits negative reactions and discipline from parents. Children resist parental control, leading to a vicious cycle of negative interactions.

Parents should positively support their children during their development through the elementary school grades.

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.