Bridges

Kindergarten has a one hour block of instruction for core concepts that begins with whole group instruction in problems and investigation and transitions to small group and individual work to practice new concepts. There is second, 20-30 minute block of instruction which focuses on pattern recognition and concept development through daily routines. The year is broken into 8 units of core instruction with 4 modules in each of those 8 units. The first unit begins with establishing math routines along with counting to 20 and working with groups of 10.

Module 1:  Students begin learning routines and procedures in math while learning about different attributes. They compare and identify similarities and differences and begin sorting objects as well as begin working on number sequence to 20.

Module 2:  In this module students continue to work on number sequence to 20 while introducing the concept of the 5 frame.  Students  learn to manipulate numbers 1 to 5 visually and develop finger patterns to represent different quantities. 

Module 3:  Students build off their knowledge of the 5 frame and begin to work with 10 frames. They will use the 10 frame to work on counting, ordering and comparing numbers as well as beginning to match numerals to their quantity. 

Module 4:  During this module students explore patterns through motion, sound, and concrete materials.  They will use hands, feet, and voices to develop and extend patterns. 

Unit 3 will introduce students to counting by 2s. Bicycles and wheels are used to visualize this concept as students begin developing skills to double even numbers.

Module 1: Students begin by learning how to group objects in 2 and then connect that to sequencing groups of 2 up to 20. They are introduced to a new Work Place game, "Grab Bag Doubles," to practice this skill and continue decomposing and comparing numbers.

Module 2:  This unit continues work with composing and decomposing numbers as well as doubling. Students continue to practice counting in various ways and using ten frames to add and subtract by 1.

Module 3:  Students practice comparing quantities on their 10 frames as well as adding and subtracting using equations to describe what they are modeling. They will also compare different trains of cubes to determine which is greater along with adding and doubling numbers.

Module 4:  The last unit of the module extends on counting to have students learning how to count forward and backward and comparing amounts to determine more or less. Students also continue to work on reading numerals and making all of the different combinations of 5. 

Unit 5 begins to explore the difference between two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes by comparing a sphere and a circle. Students will identify, compare, and sort a variety of shapes.

Module 1:  Students will begin by exploring pattern blocks and sorting them by attributes. They investigate the differences between a sphere and a circle and continue to work on counting forward and backward from 1-20.

Module 2:  In this next module students focus on naming, identifying, and analyzing circles, squares, triangles and rectangles. Students analyze and construct shapes on geoboards while practicing writing equations and comparison statements. 

Module 3:  Students will move from identifying shapes to drawing and constructing shapes, as well as learning how simple shapes can be combined to form larger shapes. They will continue working on counting, comparing and writing equations as they extend their counting sequence to 60.

Module 4:  This module brings all of the skills together as students each contribute to a class quilt with different shapes they have learned about. They will also contineu to work on identifying attributes and counting to 60. 

Unit 7 introduces students to the concept of place value. They continue to work on solving addition and subtraction problems and also begin to work with weight and capacity. 

Module 1:  Students are introduced to the weights of objects by comparing and understanding the concepts of heavier and lighter. They will also be estimating capacity and extend their counting up to 100.

Module 2:  Teen number sense continues to be developed as students work on "ten and some more" and discuss more and less. Warm-ups will focus on counting to 100 by 10s. 

Module 3:  Different strategies for solving addition and subtraction problems are worked on through story problems. Students continue to strengthen their understanding of combinations of 5s and ability to count on from a given number.  

Module 4:  In this module students continue working on counting by 10s and 1s using craft sticks, ten-frames, and double ten-frames. Using materials for this helps students make the connection that a group of ten is made up of ten individual ones. Students also continue working on comparing numbers and counting.