Pre-Kindergarten Mathematics

For Parents and Teachers

Adult Facilitation Required: All activities and questions in this course must be facilitated by an adult. Pre-K students cannot read independently and learn best through guided, hands-on exploration.

Teaching Pre-K Mathematics

What Makes Pre-K Math Special:
- Everything is concrete - students work with real, physical objects
- Learning happens through play and exploration
- Questions are asked orally by adults
- Students respond by showing, doing, or saying (not writing)
- Short attention spans mean 10-15 minute sessions work best
- Repetition and practice happen through games and daily routines

Your Role as Facilitator:
- Read all prompts aloud in a warm, encouraging tone
- Provide physical materials for each activity
- Model mathematical thinking: "I wonder how many..."
- Accept multiple ways of solving problems
- Celebrate effort and discovery, not just correct answers
- Connect math to the student's daily life and interests

Session Structure:
1. Gather materials before starting
2. Read the question naturally (don't sound like you're testing)
3. Let the student work at their own pace
4. Ask follow-up questions: "How did you figure that out?"
5. Enter their answer and discuss the feedback together

Course Overview

Complete mathematics course for Pre-Kindergarten students covering four essential domains: Counting & Cardinality, Operations & Algebraic Thinking, Measurement & Data, and Geometry. Students develop foundational mathematical understanding through play-based learning, hands-on activities, and meaningful contexts. The curriculum emphasizes concrete experiences with real objects, conversations about mathematical ideas, and exploration of quantities, shapes, and measurement concepts. Instruction uses public-domain resources and real-world examples appropriate for 4-year-olds and younger 5-year-olds.

Four Modules:

Counting & Cardinality - Learning number names, counting objects, comparing quantities
Operations & Algebraic Thinking - Understanding putting together, taking apart, adding to, and taking away with concrete objects
Measurement & Data - Comparing sizes, sorting objects, describing measurable attributes
Geometry - Identifying shapes, describing spatial relationships, creating with shapes

Each module contains 10 topics with rich descriptions and practice questions. All activities assume adult facilitation and use of physical manipulatives.

Courses in this curriculum

Courses in this curriculum