What Should Be Taught in Elementary Schools to Set Kids Up for Success?

In today‘s complex and rapidly evolving world, the elementary school curriculum needs to expand beyond traditional academics to fully prepare students for the future. While foundational subjects like reading, writing and arithmetic are still essential, children also need knowledge and skills related to emotional intelligence, technology, practical life competencies, and more.

As an education reformer, I‘m a strong advocate for integrating innovative topics into elementary learning – not just tackling them later in middle or high schools when developmental windows may have passed. The earlier we start setting kids up for success, the more prepared, empowered and passionate they can be in meeting tomorrow‘s challenges.

So exactly what should we prioritize teaching children before 5th grade graduation? Here are 11 vital subjects I believe elementary schools must include, along with key reasons why and specific lessons to cover in each area.

1. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

Social-emotional learning focuses on developing self-awareness, responsible decision-making, relationship skills and more. By teaching SEL from an early age, educators equip students with fundamental life tools like:

• Self-management – handling stress, controlling impulses
• Personal responsibility – organizational skills, goal setting
• Social awareness – empathy, appreciating diversity
• Relationship building – communication, cooperation

According to a landmark study from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), SEL programs in schools result in:

• 13% improvement in academic performance
• 9% decrease in conduct problems
• 10% decrease in emotional distress

Essential SEL Lessons for Elementary Students:

• Identifying one‘s strengths, weaknesses and emotions
• Establishing healthy friendships and support systems
• Constructive conflict resolution
• Stress management and self-care
• Media literacy and safe digital citizenship

2. Financial Literacy

Financial literacy planting seeds early on can yield a lifetime of fiscal responsibility and economic empowerment. Key lessons for elementary school children include:

Money Management Fundamentals

• Counting/recognizing currencies and coins
• Earning through age-appropriate chores/jobs
• Budgeting with allowances

Smart Consumer Skills

• Wants vs needs
• Comparison shopping
• Analyzing marketing tactics

Intro to Banking

• Saving/spending accounts
• Writing checks/handling ATMs

The Council for Economic Education found that students who had completed a course in personal finance were more likely to save, budget and pay off credit cards. So starting early clearly pays off!

3. Coding Basics

In a technology-dependent world, understanding coding fundamentals equips students with computational thinking skills for the digital era, including:

• Logical reasoning
• Algorithm design
• Debugging through trial-and-error
• Visual block coding via platforms like Scratch

Beyond priming kids for potential STEM studies/careers, coding ability enriches talents like creativity, persistence and problem-solving that serve every field.

Top reasons to teach coding in elementary school:

• Boosts sequencing, analysis and critical thinking skills
• Promotes growth mindset and grit
• Demystifies technology and builds confidence
• Prepares children for the jobs of the future
• Levels the playing field for gender inclusiveness and income equality in tech fields

While mastery takes time, introducing coding early allows it to become a familiar literacy – like learning the alphabet before writing sentences. Scalable coding curriculum makes this possible even for teachers without specialized expertise.

4. Civics and Government

In an era of societal division and democratic instability around the world, strong civics instruction centers students as engaged community members and stewards of democratic freedoms.

Crucial lessons include:

Community Connectedness

• Local leaders, businesses, nonprofits and civic groups
• Volunteering and service opportunities
• Current events discussions

Government Functionality

• Branches and roles at municipal, state and federal levels
• Policy-making processes

Rights and Responsibilities

• Free speech, equal protection, due process
• Public participation, lawful behavior, ethical digital citizenship

Harvard researchers found that students exposed to civics education are:

• More politically informed and engaged as adults
• More likely to participate in politics by voting and contacting public officials
• More confident in their ability to make a difference on issues impacting their communities

So teaching civics and government in elementary schools strengthens both democracy and individual agency.

5. Nutrition and Health

Childhood is a critical window for instilling healthy habits that form the foundation for wellbeing across the lifespan. Key instruction areas include:

Food Science

• Nutrition standards and food groups
• Healthy meal planning and smart grocery shopping

Fitness Knowledge

• Physical, mental and social benefits
• Age-appropriate cardio, strength and flexibility training

Body Literacy

• Basic anatomy and physiology
• Injury and illness prevention/first aid
• Growth mindset, body positivity and self-care

According to the CDC, childhood obesity has tripled over recent decades. So teaching nutrition and health in engaging ways is vital for reversing this dangerous trajectory.

6. Environmental Studies

Environmental literacy cultivates appreciation for the natural world and commitment to ecological stewardship. Crucial topics comprise:

Conservation Science

• Human impacts on climate, ecosystems and biodiversity
• Renewable resources and sustainability
• Waste reduction through reusing, recycling and composting

experiential Learning

• Local ecosystems through nature walks and field trips
• Gardening and regenerative agriculture
• Citizen science projects measuring rainfall, species populations, etc.

Children are inherently fascinated by animals, plants and the outdoors. Capitalizing on this natural curiosity through robust environmental studies curricula pays dividends for youth leadership on pressing issues like climate change.

7. Practical Life Skills

Beyond textual fluency and mathematical calculations, students need real world abilities like personal organization, interpersonal interactions and self-reliance. Fundamental competencies to instill encompass:

Time Management

• Scheduling tasks
• Prioritizing responsibilities
• Balancing work and leisure

Money Management

• Earning and budgeting
• Financial goal-setting
• Avoiding unnecessary debt

Communication Fluency

• Public speaking
• Writing professional correspondence
• Navigating crucial conversations and disagreements

Those able to expertly manage their time, money and relationships experience less stress plus more career advancement, financial security and social fulfillment. So teaching pragmatic life skills in elementary schools empowers thriving adulthood.

8. The Arts

Dance, music, creative writing and visual arts stimulate imaginations and enhance academic outcomes across disciplines. Perhaps most importantly, arts education strengthens abilities like:

Creativity

• Innovative problem-solving
• Self-expression and identity

Focus

• Concentration, memory and sequencing

Collaborative Teamwork

• Leadership, responsibility and conflict management

National Endowment for the Arts research shows low-income students with high arts participation outperform peers from more affluent districts. So universal arts education can help democratize opportunity.

9. Physical Education

Physical literacy establishes foundations for health and wellbeing via:

Fitness Knowledge

• Cardiovascular and muscular endurance
• Flexibility, balance and coordination

Sports Skills

• Individual activities
• Collaborative team games

Injury Prevention

• Proper technique, gear, warm-up/cool-down
• Emergency response – CPR, "Stop, Drop and Roll," etc.

The Centers for Disease Control reports only 20% of children (6-17 years) meet national physical activity standards (60+ minutes daily). Robust P.E. programming plays a crucial role in closing this dangerous gap.

10. World Languages

foreign language instruction broadens intercultural perspectives and cognitive horizons. Key benefits encompass:

Global Citizenship

• Appreciating diverse customs and worldviews

Economic Mobility

• Marketability in business, diplomacy, development fields

Cognitive Advantage

• Enhanced problem-solving, multi-tasking and creative thinking

Ample research shows bilingual students display improved memory, focus and analytical abilities over single-language peers. So offering world languages as early as elementary school can serve students for life.

11. Social Sciences

History, civic and economic instruction situates students in our collective past and shared present:

Historical Literacy

• Major events, figures and inflection points through engaging narratives and activities

Market Fundamentals

• Trade, supply/demand and global interconnectedness

Sociology

• Identity, inequality and demographic shifts

By studying patterns of the past and present, students gain social perspective and analytical ability to navigate coming decades.

The elementary school years represent foundational windows of developmental opportunity. As such, curriculum must address emerging demands of the era such as cultural inclusiveness, technological disruption and global cooperation.

Thoughtfully integrating the above subjects prepares students not just for academic and career success but more importantly for lives of meaning, purpose and multidimensional prosperity.

Through instruction as enriching as it is practical, students develop holistically – realizing fuller expressions of intellectual, creative, physical, social and emotional potentials. This comprehensive preparation unleashes their brightest futures while lighting the way for future generations.