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 ›
Measurement & Comparison

Comparing and ordering objects by measurable attributes and beginning to use non-standard units.

Examples & Achievements

  • Compares two objects and describes which is longer/shorter, heavier/lighter, bigger/smaller
  • Orders 3-5 objects by length or height
  • Uses non-standard units to measure ("this table is 6 blocks long")
  • Understands concepts of full/empty, more/less
  • Describes and compares objects using size words

How to Measure

  • Correctly compares and orders 5 objects by length
  • Measures an object using non-standard units and states the measurement
  • Correctly uses comparison terms (longer, shorter, heavier, lighter) in context
  • Montessori Sensorial materials - Pink Tower, Red Rods observations
Sources (4)
  • Common Core K
  • Montessori
  • HighScope
  • Head Start ELOF

Childhood Map › Mathematical Thinking

Measurement & Comparison

Comparing and ordering objects by measurable attributes and beginning to use non-standard units.

Examples & Achievements

How to Measure

Sources