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.

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
Patterns & Classification

Identifying, creating, extending, and describing repeating patterns, and sorting objects by shared attributes.

Examples & Achievements

  • Recognizes and extends a simple AB pattern (red, blue, red, blue, ?)
  • Creates own patterns with objects, colors, or sounds
  • Sorts objects by one attribute (color, shape, size, type)
  • Sorts the same set of objects in different ways
  • Identifies the "rule" in a pattern

How to Measure

  • Extends an AB and ABC pattern correctly
  • Creates an original repeating pattern with 3+ repetitions
  • Sorts a set of 12+ objects by 2 different attributes on separate trials
  • Describes the rule of a given pattern ("it goes big, small, big, small")
Sources (4)
  • HighScope
  • Common Core K
  • Montessori
  • Head Start ELOF

Childhood MapMathematical Thinking

Patterns & Classification

Identifying, creating, extending, and describing repeating patterns, and sorting objects by shared attributes.