Ages 5–8 · Pre-K to Grade 2
Maths for Beginners (Ages 5–8)
At this stage maths should feel like play. Children learn most when they count real objects, sort toys by size, spot shapes on a walk and talk about "more", "fewer" and "the same". Formal written methods can wait. Understanding comes first.
The lessons below are the gentlest on the site. Adults can read them alongside a child, then try the suggested activity together.
By the end of this stage
- Count reliably to 100 and recognise that the last number counted tells you how many there are
- Add and subtract within 20 using objects, fingers and number lines
- Name common 2D and 3D shapes and describe their sides and corners
- Compare lengths, masses and capacities using words like longer, heavier and holds more
- Read o'clock and half past times on an analogue clock
Lessons for this level
Numbers
Data & Statistics
Measurement
Money & Finance
Try this
Kitchen measuring
- Collect three different cups or containers.
- Guess which holds the most water and which holds the least.
- Fill the smallest container and pour it into the others. How many fills does each one take?
- Put the containers in order and check whether the guesses were right.