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.

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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 ›
Number Sense & Counting

Understanding quantities, counting with meaning, and recognizing written numerals.

Examples & Achievements

  • Rote counts to 20 or beyond
  • Counts objects with one-to-one correspondence up to 10-20
  • Understands that the last number counted tells "how many" (cardinality)
  • Recognizes written numerals 0-10
  • Subitizes (instantly recognizes) small quantities (1-5) without counting
  • Compares groups and tells which has more, fewer, or the same

How to Measure

  • Accurately counts a set of 15 objects with one-to-one correspondence
  • Names written numerals 0-10
  • Answers "how many?" correctly after counting (demonstrates cardinality)
  • Subitizes quantities of 1-4 on dot cards without counting
  • Correctly compares two groups (more/fewer) for sets up to 10
Sources (4)
  • Common Core K
  • Montessori
  • Head Start ELOF
  • CDC/AAP
9 Exercises
Counting Collections › Quick-Look Subitizing Cards › Numeral Hunt — The Number Detective › Sand-Tray Numeral Tracing › Counting Songs and Finger Rhymes › More, Fewer, Same — Card Battle › The Great Race — Linear Number Board Game › Set the Table — Helper Math › Ten-Frame Builder ›

Childhood Map › Mathematical Thinking

Number Sense & Counting

Understanding quantities, counting with meaning, and recognizing written numerals.

Examples & Achievements

How to Measure

Sources

9 Exercises & Activities

Counting Collections › Quick-Look Subitizing Cards › Numeral Hunt — The Number Detective › Sand-Tray Numeral Tracing › Counting Songs and Finger Rhymes › More, Fewer, Same — Card Battle › The Great Race — Linear Number Board Game › Set the Table — Helper Math › Ten-Frame Builder ›