Kindergarten Math: how to help at home
What your child learns in Kindergarten math in the Prince Edward Island Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Number Sense. count in a variety of ways.
- Patterns. demonstrate an understanding of repeating patterns (two or three elements) by identifying, describing, copying, extending, and creating patterns.
- Measurement. compare two objects based on a single attribute, such as length (height), mass (weight), and volume (capacity).
- Geometry. sort 3-D objects using a single attribute.
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.
Quick Look Counting
Practises seeing small amounts, 1 to 6, at a glance in familiar arrangements such as dice and dot patterns, without counting one by one. Ask your child to tell you how they saw it: “I saw 2 and 2.”
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.
Build with Blocks
Practises naming and describing 3-D objects (sphere, cube, cylinder, cone) by how they look and move, and choosing blocks to build with. At home, build a tower and talk about which block goes where and why.
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.
- Approaching
- 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 PEI 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 Prince Edward Island Curriculum Kindergarten math units include count to 10, numbers to 20, quick look counting, make 5 and 10, more, less, same, patterns.
Free printable Kindergarten math practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.