Childhood Map

Discover the amazing things 5-year-olds are learning — from climbing and jumping to friendships, feelings, and first words on a page. Each skill comes with fun activities you can try together.

Physical & Motor 8 › Sensory 8 › Executive 7 › Cognitive 6 › Language 5 › Communication 5 › Emotional 5 › Social 6 › Self-Care 7 › Literacy 4 › Math 5 › Creative & Artistic 5 › World & Science 5 ›
by Robert Pankowecki
Mathematical Thinking

Number sense, operations, spatial reasoning, measurement, and pattern recognition that form the foundation for mathematical literacy.

Sources (6)
  • Head Start ELOF (Mathematics Development)
  • UK EYFS (Mathematics)
  • US Common Core (Math-K)
  • Montessori (Mathematics Area)
  • HighScope
  • E.D. Hirsch
5 Subdomains
Number Sense & Counting9 › Operations (Early Addition & Subtraction) › Geometry & Spatial Sense › Measurement & Comparison › Patterns & Classification ›
Geometry & Spatial Sense

Recognizing shapes, understanding positions in space, and composing/decomposing geometric forms.

Examples & Achievements

  • Names and describes basic 2D shapes (circle, square, triangle, rectangle, hexagon)
  • Identifies 3D shapes (sphere, cube, cylinder, cone) in the environment
  • Uses positional words correctly (above, below, beside, between, in front of, behind)
  • Composes larger shapes from smaller shapes (two triangles make a square)
  • Completes puzzles and tangrams

How to Measure

  • Names and identifies 5+ 2D shapes
  • Uses 3+ positional words correctly in context
  • Composes a larger shape from 2-3 smaller shapes (pattern blocks)
  • Completes a 20+ piece puzzle independently
Sources (4)
  • Common Core K
  • Montessori
  • EYFS
  • Head Start ELOF

Childhood Map › Mathematical Thinking

Geometry & Spatial Sense

Recognizing shapes, understanding positions in space, and composing/decomposing geometric forms.

Examples & Achievements

How to Measure

Sources