First Grade Math Skills

Counting & Number Sense (to 120)

• Count forward from any number up to 120.
• Count backward from 20.
• Read and write numerals to 120.
• Understand "one more" and "one less" for any number under 100.
• Compare two-digit numbers using >, <, and = symbols.

Addition & Subtraction (within 20)

• Add and subtract within 20 using objects, drawings, or mental strategies.
• Know addition and subtraction facts to 10 fluently.
• Understand the relationship between addition and subtraction (fact families).
• Solve word problems involving adding to, taking from, and comparing quantities.
• Use the commutative property: 3 + 5 = 5 + 3.

Place Value

• Understand that the two digits of a two-digit number represent tens and ones.
• Bundle objects into groups of 10 - know that 10 ones make one ten.
• Decompose numbers: 34 = 30 + 4.
• Compare two-digit numbers based on the value of the tens and ones digits.

Measurement & Data

• Order three objects by length and compare lengths indirectly.
• Measure length using non-standard units (paper clips, cubes).
• Tell and write time to the hour and half hour.
• Organise and interpret data with up to three categories.

Geometry & Shapes

• Identify and describe 2D shapes: circles, triangles, rectangles, squares, hexagons.
• Identify and describe 3D shapes: cubes, cylinders, cones, spheres.
• Compose and decompose shapes - build larger shapes from smaller ones.
• Partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares (halves, fourths).

Fun Activities to Practice at Home

First graders learn best through play and short, focused practice sessions. Here are activities that reinforce the skills above:

• Number hunt: Walk around the house or neighbourhood and find numbers - on clocks, letterboxes, price tags. Write them down and order them from smallest to largest.
• Domino addition: Each domino shows two groups of dots. Add them together. For extra practice, write the number sentence: 4 + 3 = 7.
• Money counting: Give your child a handful of coins (real or play). Practise counting by 1s, 5s, and 10s. "How much do you have in total?"
• Shape scavenger hunt: Find circles, rectangles, and triangles in everyday objects - wheels, windows, sandwich halves.
• Ten-frame flash: Show a ten-frame card for 3 seconds. Ask "How many?" and "How many more to make ten?" This builds number sense rapidly.

Signs Your Child May Need Extra Support

Every child develops at their own pace, but watch for these signs that may indicate a need for additional practice or professional assessment:

• Still counting on fingers for facts within 5 by mid-year.
• Difficulty recognising numerals or writing them in the correct order.
• Cannot compare two single-digit numbers (which is bigger, 6 or 4?).
• Avoids maths activities or shows anxiety when maths is mentioned.
• Cannot identify basic 2D shapes like circles and squares.

If you notice several of these signs, talk to your child's teacher. Early intervention is highly effective - most children who receive targeted support in first grade catch up within a few months.