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 ›
Operations (Early Addition & Subtraction)

Combining and separating small quantities using concrete objects and mental strategies.

Examples & Achievements

  • Solves simple addition with objects ("3 blocks and 2 more blocks makes 5")
  • Solves simple subtraction with objects ("5 cookies, ate 2, now there are 3")
  • Decomposes numbers within 10 ("5 is 3 and 2, or 4 and 1")
  • Uses fingers to add and subtract within 5
  • Understands "putting together" and "taking away" concepts

How to Measure

  • Solves 3 out of 5 addition problems within 5 using objects
  • Solves 3 out of 5 subtraction problems within 5 using objects
  • Decomposes a given number (5-10) into two parts
  • Common Core K.OA assessment items
Sources (3)
  • Common Core K
  • Montessori
  • HighScope

Childhood Map › Mathematical Thinking

Operations (Early Addition & Subtraction)

Combining and separating small quantities using concrete objects and mental strategies.

Examples & Achievements

How to Measure

Sources