First Grade Critical Areas

  1. Students will develop various ways to add and subtract whole numbers using a variety of models to help develop connections between counting, addition and subtraction. Through interaction with everyday objects, students’ knowledge of addition and subtraction to 20 will develop. For example, putting groups together, adding objects, and taking them apart to make comparisons between addition and subtraction.
  2. Students will think of whole numbers between 10 and 100 in terms of tens and ones. For example, 53 is 5 groups of ten and 3 ones. Using activities that build number sense, students will use place value to recognize how numbers are made.
  3. Students develop an understanding of the meaning and processes of measurement, including standard and non-standard objects of measurement. For example, using cubes or paper clips to measure a desk.
  4. Students will understand shapes and be able to combine and break apart shapes to create new shapes. As they combine shapes, they will develop an early understanding of geometric properties.