Embedded Files
We’d like to introduce you to the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum. This problem-based curriculum makes rigorous elementary school mathematics accessible to all learners.
What is a problem based curriculum?
In a problem-based curriculum, students spend most of their time in class working on carefully crafted and sequenced problems. Teachers help students understand the problems, ask questions to push their thinking, and orchestrate discussions to be sure that the mathematical takeaways are clear. Learners gain a rich and lasting understanding of mathematical concepts and procedures and experience applying this knowledge to new situations. Students frequently collaborate with their classmates—they talk about math, listen to each other’s ideas, justify their thinking, and critique the reasoning of others. They gain experience communicating their ideas both verbally and in writing, developing skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.
This kind of instruction may look different from what you experienced in your own math education. Current research says that students need to be able to think flexibly in order to use mathematical skills in their lives (and also on the types of tests they will encounter throughout their schooling). Flexible thinking relies on understanding concepts and making connections between them. Over time, students gain the skills and the confidence to independently solve problems that they've never seen before.
Unit 1: Adding, Subtracting and Working with Data
Unit 1: Adding, Subtracting and Working with Data
In this unit, students add and subtract within 10 and answer questions about data.
Unit 1 Family Support LetterUnit 2: Addition and Subtraction Story Problems
Unit 2: Addition and Subtraction Story Problems
In this unit, students solve new types of story problems within 10. They develop an understanding of the meaning of the equal sign and connect story problems to equations.
Unit 2 Family Support LetterUnit 3: Adding and Subtracting within 20
Unit 3: Adding and Subtracting within 20
In this unit, students add and subtract within 20.
Unit 3 Family Support LetterUnit 4: Numbers to 99
Unit 4: Numbers to 99
In this unit, students develop an understanding of place value for numbers up to 99. This unit is the first introduction to the base-ten system. The understanding students develop about units of tens and ones will be the foundation for base-ten work, including decimals, that continues through grade 5.
Unit 4 Family Support LetterUnit 5: Adding within 100
Unit 5: Adding within 100
In this unit, students use place value understanding and properties of operations to add within 100.
Unit 5 Family Support LetterUnit 6: Length Measurements within 120 Units
Unit 6: Length Measurements within 120 Units
In this unit, students measure length and count measurement units up to 120. They also solve addition and subtraction story problems with unknowns in all positions.
Unit 6 Family Support LetterUnit 7: Geometry and Time
Unit 7: Geometry and Time
In this unit, students reason with shapes and their attributes and split shapes into equal pieces. Students also tell time to the hour and half hour.
Unit 7 Family Support LetterUnit 8: Putting It All Together
Unit 8: Putting It All Together
In this unit, students put together their understanding from throughout the year to cap off major work and fluency goals of the grade.
Unit 8 Family Support LetterReport abuse