Mathematics

Please Note: This section gives an overview of each unit in Everyday Mathematics. The unit overviews are presented chronologically. Please scroll down to see the unit you would like to visit. There is a "hall pass" at the end to return to the "home page".

Our mathematics curriculum encompasses a program developed by the University of Chicago Mathematics Project (UCSMP) entitled “Everyday Mathematics”. The program offers the children a broad background and rich experiences in mathematics. Mathematical concepts presented in Grade One spiral into future materials in subsequent grades and mastery is not expected in all areas.

 Frequently, students are asked to explain how they got the answers or to try to find another way to get the same answer. The program utilizes discussion, daily routines, year long projects, partner and small-group activities, games, the use of manipulatives, and home-school partnerships.

Our Math lessons in September begin with Unit 1, Establishing Routines. In this unit we will establish an active learning environment where the children will begin to build mathematical knowledge. We will establish routines that we will use throughout the school year and that the children will use in later grades. These routines will provide the structure that we will work within. The Homelinks will be the home connection to our units of study. Each unit is introduced through a Family Letter. The beginning-of-year Family Letter introduces you to First Grade Everyday Mathematics in general and to Unit 1 in particular.

In this unit, we will be learning 4 games. Click here to learn how these games are played. The games are Number-Line Squeeze, Penny-Dice Game, Top-It, and Scissors, Paper, Stone.

Click here to see the Unit 1 math vocabulary words.

Cross-curricular links for Unit 1:

    SCIENCE

• Discuss the term full moon

• Explain how mercury behaves in  a thermometer and helps people gauge temperature

    SOCIAL STUDIES

• Discuss various road signs

    LITERATURE AND READING

• Read and act out action rhymes and finger plays to practice rote-counting skills

• Practice counting skills with counting books

In Unit 2, Everyday Uses of Numbers, of Everyday Mathematics, the following major content areas will be highlighted: number lines and number grids, developing a readiness for addition and subtraction, math boxes, units and unit boxes, clocks and telling time, money notation, coin values, and coin exchanges, problem solving, and number models. To develop good fact power and other skills, we will practice through games.

The games in Unit 2 are Rolling for 50, Top-It, Two-Fisted Penny Addition, Penny Grab and Penny-Nickel Grab, Penny-Cup, Penny Guessing, Coin Top-It, Penny-Nickel Exchange, and Penny-Drop Addition. Click here to learn how some of these games are played.

Click here to see the Unit 2 math vocabulary words.

Cross-curricular links for Unit 2:

    SCIENCE:

• Encourage the children to discuss other ways of keeping time, such as the movement of the sun and the moon

    LANGUAGE ARTS

• Discuss the abbreviations for A.M. and P.M.

• Discuss the meaning of the word shorthand and show how we use the shorthand symbols for money notation

• Discuss using initial consonants to represent coins

    MUSIC

• Sing the song "Paper Clocks" by Hap Palmer while setting clocks to match the time used in the song

    SOCIAL STUDIES

• Discuss museums with the children

• Discuss community helpers and list their telephone numbers

Unit 3, Visual Patterns, Number Patterns, and Counting, of Everyday Mathematics, focuses on one of the most important topics in mathematics-the study of predictable patterns. Since patterns can be considered predictable, we can usually give a rule that describes the pattern. This rule can be used to extend the pattern. Unit 3 focuses on number patterns: odd and even number patterns, patterns in number lines, number grids, and number sequences. These number patterns will then be revisited throughout the year! In this unit we will also extend time to the half-hour, we will add dimes to our tool kit coin collection, and we will work on solving simple addition and subtraction number problems.

We will continue to practice developing good fact power and other math skills through games. In Unit 3 we will practice numeration in Before and After (lesson 3.1), find equivalent coin combinations in Penny-Nickel Exchange lessons 3.2 and 3.10), add coins in Coin Top-It lesson 3.11), review coin exchange and numeration in Coin-Dice (lesson 3.12 and 3.15), practice addition and number comparison in Dime-Nickel-Penny Grab (lesson 3.12), and practice addition skills with Domino Top-It (lesson 3.14).

Click here to see the Unit 3 math vocabulary words.

Cross-curricular links for Unit 3:

    SOCIAL STUDIES

• Children use magnifying lenses to look closet at dimes

• Discuss different currencies and monetary systems found around the world

    LANGUAGE

• Discuss the origin of the word dime and other words that have the same Latin root

Unit 4, Measurement and Basic Facts, introduces two new routines that will continue throughout grade 1. First, the children will begin to add numbers to number scrolls. This activity provides practice in number-writing and increases their understanding of place value. The second routine that we introduce in this unit is the Math Message. The Math Message is used through sixth grade.

Children work with linear measures and review and extend their knowledge of thermometers and clocks. They use non-standard measures, including digits and hands spans. They also explore U.S. customary units such as inches and feet. We will use rulers and tape measures to measure classroom objects and ourselves.

We will also begin the important work of establishing "automatic recall", or what we often call automaticity, of basic addition facts.

Games in this unit include Domino Top-It (lessons 4.1, 4.5, 4.8) to practice addition and comparison, to practice addition and subtraction Two-fisted Penny Addition (lessons 4.2, 4.8), Coin-Dice (lesson 4.3) to practice money exchange skills, practice telling time with Time Match (lessons 4.4, 4.10), to practice addition facts High Roller (lessons 4.11, 4.12), and Shaker Addition Top-It (lesson 4.12) to practice addition facts.

Click here to see the Unit 4 math vocabulary words.

Cross-Curricular links for Unit 4:

    LITERATURE

• Read "How Big is My Foot" by Rolf Myller. In this text, a carpenter learns the benefits of using standard measurement while making a bed for the queen.

• Read "Inch by Inch" by Leo Lionni, a book about an inchworm who measures parts of different birds.

    ART AND LITERATURE

• Draw number combinations for 10 using "Anno's Counting House" by Mitsumasa Anno as a model

    SCIENCE AND LITERATURE

• Plant bean seeds and read "Jack and the Beanstalk"

Place Value, Number Stories, and Basic Facts, Unit 5, is devoted to extending children's understanding of addition and subtraction and promoting proficiency with addition and subtraction. In this unit, children will make up and solve number stories. This will help them link verbal representations to the concrete, pictorial, and number-model representations.

When working with number facts, we will focus on +0, +1, doubles, and sums-of-10 facts. We will also learn that the order in which two numbers are added does not affect the sum.

We will also explore place-value with the help of base-10 blocks. We will use these manipulatives for adding sums beyond basic addition facts.

Our unit ends with the introduction of "What's My Rule?". This routine gives the children additional practice with addition and subtraction facts, number patterns, as well as place-value relationships.

Games in this unit are Top-It (lesson 5.3) to practice comparing numbers, Tens-and-Ones Trading Game (Lessons 5.3, 5.12) and the Penny-Nickel-Dime Exchange (lesson 5.11) to work on making exchanges, Shaker Addition Top-It (lesson 5.5), Beat the Calculator (lesson 5.11), and Two-Fisted Penny Addition (lesson 5.5) to practice basic facts, Domino Top-It (lesson 5.7) to practice adding and comparing, Turn-Around Facts Game (lesson 5.10) to identify facts, and Penny Cup (lesson 5.11) to practice sums of 10.

Click here to see the Unit 5 math vocabulary words.

Cross-curricular links for Unit 5:

    READING

• Compare the 26 letters of the alphabet which make up all English words with the 10 digits that make up all numbers.

    LANGUAGE ARTS

• Children may list animal names in alphabetical order.

    LITERATURE

• Children may read stories about "inchlings" from "Tom Thumb", a book by Margaret Read MacDonald.

    SCIENCE

• Children will be encouraged to discuss the animal facts that they know when comparing the animals used in this unit. Things like types of coverings, methods of movement, or habitat may be discussed.

Since one of the goals of Everyday Mathematics is for children to achieve "automaticity" of the basic addition and subtraction facts, Unit 6, Developing Fact Power, is a critical component in achieving that goal. "Automaticity" means that children are able to recall the basic addition facts instantly, without having to take the time to figure them out.

Many experiences will be provided throughout grade one through number stories, games, and work with manipulatives, both before and during the memorization process. It is the expectation that, with frequent practice throughout the school year, most children will know the simple addition facts by the end of first grade.

Unit 6 also reviews and extends topics that we previously introduced (measuring in cm., counting sets of coins, representing time with digital notation, and finding the range and middle value of sets of data).

In this unit, we will play the following games: Addition Top-It (Lesson 6.2, 6.5, 6.12) to compare sums, use the Difference Game (Lesson 6.3) to find "how many more" pennies, Beat the Calculator (Lessons 6.4, 6.11) for automaticity, Fact Power Game (Lesson 6.4) to practice basic facts, Tens-and-Ones Trading Game (Lesson 6.6) to practice using and counting with base-10 blocks, find and compare sums with Shaker Addition Top-It (Lesson 6.4), find the value of coins and compare with Dime-Nickel-Penny Grab (Lesson 6.8), Coin Top-It (Lesson 6.9) to find the value of a collection of coins, Coin Exchange (Lesson 6.10) to practice exchanging coins, and Time Match (Lesson 6.10) to match analog and digital clocks.

Click here to see the Unit 6 math vocabulary words.

Cross-curricular links for Unit 6:

    SOCIAL STUDIES

• Locate the United States and other countries on the map or globe.

    SCIENCE

• Share interesting animal facts.