CONTENTSMaths in the first 6 months of school
The video shows you what and how your child will be learning maths when they start school.
What your child will learn in maths#
Every day, your child is finding out about and using mathematical ideas such as counting, measuring, sorting, patterns, numbers, shapes, size and position. You can support their understanding and confidence with mathematics by helping them to notice patterns, shapes, sizes, and numbers wherever you are and by including mathematical ideas in their play, interests and everyday activities.
Having good mathematical skills and a positive view of themselves as maths learners will help your child in the future. They are important for solving problems and creative thinking. When talking to your child about maths, encourage your child to use the vocabulary that they have been using in their maths classes.
Numbers#
Your child is learning to:
- recognise small groups of objects (up to 5) without having to count them 1 by 1
- count both forwards and backwards, starting from any number between 1 and 10 and later up to 20
- recognise, say, and write numbers from 0 to 10 and compare and arrange numbers up to 10 in order from smallest to largest
- develop addition and subtraction ideas – by joining and separating groups of up to 10 objects, like 7 and 3, or 8 and 2.
Ideas to help at home
With your child, you could:
- create a 'sorting box' with 'treasure' – for example, bottle tops, shells, stones, little toys, pencils and leaves – and ask questions like, "how many?", "which is the biggest group?", "which is the smallest group?" or "how many for each of us?"
- notice and name numbers around you – on letterboxes, number plates or in books
- set the table and get the right number of plates, knives and forks for everyone
- count as you walk, swing or climb up and down steps
- play board games where you roll a die and move the number of jumps around the board
- go to the supermarket and pick out a number of items like apples or cans
- cut fruit or sandwiches and talk about the number of pieces.
Words your child will be learning
Words include:
- add, plus, join
- altogether
- biggest, smallest
- combine, separate
- count
- group
- how many
- in between
- more, less
- next, before, after
- take away, minus.
Algebra#
Your child is learning to:
- recognise and work with simple repeating patterns using 2 elements like colours (red, red, green), shapes (round, square, round) or sounds (clap, stamp, clap, stamp)
- copy patterns they see and continue them as well as creating their own and explaining how they work.
Ideas to help at home
With your child, you could:
- listen to music and clap, count and sing the rhythm
- notice patterns and talk about them, like stripes on a shirt or the tiles in the kitchen
- make patterns with blocks or toys – for example, red, blue, red, blue.
Words your child will be learning
Words include:
- continue
- copy
- next
- pattern
- repeat.
Measurement#
Your child is learning to:
- Directly compare 2 objects by looking at them – for example, putting 2 different shoes together and deciding which is longer, or holding 2 packets from the kitchen and saying which is heavier. They use words like 'taller,' 'shorter,' 'heavier,' 'lighter,' 'more' and 'less' to describe their comparisons.
- Connect the days of the week to things they already know, like daily routines and special events. For example, "on Monday we have library and on Friday we have assembly".
Ideas to help at home
With your child, you could:
- measure cooking ingredients together or talk about how many pieces you need for everyone
- use building blocks and talk about which tower is shorter or taller
- compare objects side by side (shorter and longer, shorter and taller, lighter and heavier)
- play with water using different shaped containers and measuring cups in the sink or bath, then talk about which containers hold more or less water
- talk about the plans for the week using 'time' words – for example "on Monday we will go to aunty’s house" and "on the weekend we can go to the park after lunch".
Words your child will be learning
Words include:
- comparative words (longer, taller, heaviest, and so on)
- full, empty
- heavy, light, short, tall, wide, large, small, big
- height and length
- measure, weigh
- same as.
Geometry#
Your child is learning to:
- recognise and name common 2D shapes, like circles, squares and triangles
- sort shapes based on 1 feature, such as size or number of sides
- build larger shapes using smaller ones, like making a rectangle from 2 squares, and breaking shapes into smaller parts, like seeing how a square can be split into 2 triangles
- follow directions to find a place or an object – for example, they might follow steps like, "walk to the door and go up the stairs" or "find the red book on the shelf".
Ideas to help at home
With your child, you could:
- talk about shapes at home like a round placemat, a square frame or a rectangular door – ask, "what makes the shapes the same and what makes them different?"
- play games that get children going over, under, through, behind and above things
- use the 'sorting box' talked about earlier – sort the objects into groups based on their features, like colour, size and shape, and talk about them
- make a wall or a tower using differently sized blocks or do jigsaw puzzles together.
Words your child will be learning
Words include:
- flip
- positional language (next to, above, below, under, up, down, on top of, inside, and so on)
- side, corner
- size (big, small, long, short)
- square, triangle, circle, rectangle
- straight, curved, round
- turn.
