Mathematics

The Lower School curriculum aims to build a solid foundation for numeracy. Our goal is that students are able to use and understand mathematical concepts and language, and develop an ability to think and reason. They learn that problems may be solved in more than one way.

The mathematics program used in the Lower School is aligned with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards for the elementary grades.

In Kindergarten, numbers 1-10 play a key role, as the students find mathematical solutions to everyday situations, and are introduced to mathematical terms and vocabulary along the way.

Basic geometry (size, shape, horizontal and vertical orientation, symmetry) is introduced. Simple algebraic funtions of recognizing and creating patterns of color, size and shape are explored.

Lengths are compared, simple pictographs are interpreted, and times of the day are identified.

In Grade 1 these basic concepts, skills and operations are built on and practiced. Addition and subtraction fact strategies (doubles, sums of 10, using a number line), building up to grade-level vertical and horizontal two-digit operations, are introduced. The students learn fact families and how to regroup.

They estimate, measure, and compare number, length, capacity, weight, and temperature. They learn how to organize data on bar charts and simple graphs.

Simple fractions are introduced, and their existing understanding of solid and plane shapes is expanded. Their knowledge of telling and writing the time is likewise extended. They identify and count money.

In Grade 2, the curriculum sees more complex use of the skills acquired in Grade 1. Two-digit addition and subtraction operations are expanded over the course of the school year to three-digit operations. Simple multiplication and division, using 2’s, 3’s,’4’s, 5’s, and 10’s, are introduced.

A more thorough understanding of place value and number patterns plays a key role, as students are presented with a variety of addition and subtraction strategies.

Use of decimals is introduced, along with expanded work on fractions. Information is entered and extracted from bar and line graphs, venn diagrams are interpreted, and more detailed work on length, capacity, weight and temperature (both customary and metric) is undertaken.

Grade 3 sees the students understanding place value up to 999,999, and working with four-digit numbers as they add and subtract. Alongside multiplication and division using numbers 6 through 9, they also learn how to multiply two- and three- digit numbers by one digit.

Geometry starts to play a more significant role. Triangles and quadrilaterals are explored in terms of angles and rays. The students work in more depth with perimeter, area and volume.

Decimals to the tenths and hundredths are manipulated, and addition and subtraction of mixed fractions is practiced.