Early Childhood Math Concepts
Pattern and Algebraic Thinking
Students learn to notice, describe, and create patterns with colors, shapes, numbers, and more.
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Example: The linking cubes are in a pattern that goes red, green, green, red, green, green.
Numbers and Operations
Students learn to count small collections of items and use those items to add or subtract. Students use concrete objects to develop their number sense and solve problems while also learning to quickly recognize the number of items in a small group.
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Example: There are three blocks. We add another block. Now there are four blocks.
Geometry and Spatial Sense
Students learn to recognize and name 2D and 3D shapes positioned in different ways. They use those shapes to create pictures and use spatial words such as above and behind to describe positioning.
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Example: Student explains they drew a circle above a triangle when drawing an ice cream cone.
Displaying and Analyzing Data
Students learn to sort and organize objects and describe their thought process. They compare groups based on their sorting and create simple graphs to show their data.
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Example: All of these objects are green. All of those objects are not green.
Measurement and Data
Students learn to recognize measurable attributes such as height, length, or weight. They begin to compare the attributes of items and sort them according to their comparisons.
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Example: One student is taller than another. One shoelace is shorter than another.