Kindergarten Math: how to help at home
What your child learns in Kindergarten math in the Nova Scotia Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Number: Develop number sense.
- Patterns and Relations: Use patterns to describe the world and solve problems.
- Measurement: Use direct and indirect measurement to solve problems.
- Geometry: Describe the characteristics of 3-D objects and 2-D shapes, and analyse the relationships among them.
Easy ways to practise math at home
- Count everyday things out loud: stairs, grapes, steps to the car.
- Sort laundry or toys into groups, then ask which group has more.
- Spot shapes on a walk: circles on signs, rectangles on doors.
- Make patterns with snacks or blocks (red, blue, red, blue) and let your child continue them.
What each unit covers
Count to 10
Counting objects one at a time, matching numbers to amounts, counting on and back, putting numbers in order, and knowing that nothing is zero.
Numbers to 20
Counting to 20 forward and back from any number, recognizing small groups at a glance, and comparing two numbers.
See It Fast
Subitizing means knowing how many are in a small group without counting. Practise with dice, dominoes and fingers: show a number and ask how many.
Make 5 and 10
Using 5 and 10 as anchors (fingers, five and ten frames), finding how many more make 5 or 10, and breaking numbers into two parts.
More, Less, Same
Comparing groups by matching them one to one, seeing equal as balanced and unequal as unbalanced on a scale, and reading simple picture graphs.
Patterns
Spotting the part that repeats in patterns like AB, AAB, ABB and ABC, then predicting what comes next or what is missing.
Shapes & Sizes
Naming flat shapes and solid objects by one feature (sides, corners, rolls or not), and comparing things by size, height, length, weight and how much they hold.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Beginning
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Developing
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Meeting
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Exceeding
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Nova Scotia report card guide.
Common questions
Count everyday things out loud: stairs, grapes, steps to the car. Sort laundry or toys into groups, then ask which group has more. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
The Nova Scotia Curriculum Kindergarten math units include count to 10, numbers to 20, see it fast, make 5 and 10, more, less, same, patterns.
Free printable Kindergarten math practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.