First Grade

Throughout the year, first grade mathematicians engage in hands-on experiences with concrete manipulatives that further develop number sense and the foundational concepts of place value in our base ten number system. Students construct a variety of strategies for addition, subtraction, and problem-solving as they work to explain their thinking and illustrate their work in ways that make sense to them. Concepts explored in earlier grades, such as skip counting, odd and even numbers, ways to make 10, part-part-whole, and comparison (more than/less than), are further developed and connected to studies of measurement and data analysis throughout the year. Recognizing and explaining patterns in numbers on the hundreds chart relate to concepts of place value and support the development of more sophisticated computation strategies. Students engage in various investigations with standard and non-standard units of measurement, composing 2D and 3D shapes, and telling time to the nearest hour and half hour. They learn to identify coins and begin to find strategies that help them compute the value of a set of coins or explore multiple ways to combine coins to reach a specific sum.