Subjects
Grades
The lists of key concepts were created by researchers at the UNESCO Chair in Curriculum Development. For more information: https: //cudc.uqam.ca/.
When it comes to math, work with your child on mathematical activities related to everyday life at home. Prioritise the use of tangible materials (Legos, peas, sweets, tins or cardboard) or concrete situations. Many mathematical activities can be carried out at the same time as an art, science or technology activity.
Here's a list of math concepts and strategies to help prepare your child for the upcoming school year. For a complete list of mathematical concepts in the first cycle of elementary school, see the Grade 1 and Grade 2 revision guide.
In everyday life, arithmetic and its operations are frequently encountered and all contexts are relevant for the following concepts.
Positive whole numbers below 1000 (units, tens, hundreds): reading, writing, concepts of digits and numbers, counting quantities, approximating quantities, etc.
Addition and subtraction (addition not exceeding 20) without borrowing and without carryover
Meaning of equality
Equivalence between two numerical expressions ("what is equal to?", "is ? equal to?")
Geometry can be incorporated into art activities (cardboard, paper, straws, etc.) involving various figures and/or solids.
Flat shapes (square, rectangle, triangle, circle, rhombus)
Construction of shapes
Comparing characteristics of shapes (number of sides, number of vertices, types of lines)
Solids (prism, pyramid, ball, cylinder, cone)
Building solids
Comparing the characteristics of solids (number of faces, shapes of faces)
Through technical or artistic activities, the rule or measuring tape can be used for measurement (preferred for lengths). Units of time can be introduced in stories or as part of a daily routine.
Comparing and measuring lengths (cm, dm, m)
Units of time (hour, day, minute, second)
The first elementary cycle introduces concepts that can help children investigate the environment. These activities can be carried out in a context of scientific investigation. Here's one example:
Interpret and represent data using a bar graph, pictograph or broken line graph.
It's important to mention that the intention of school programmes is not exclusively aligned with memorising mathematical knowledge or calculation techniques. In addition to the concepts presented in the tables above, we also recommend that parents place their children in a variety of problem-solving situations.
Problem solving is a fundamental approach that is at the centre of many curricula, such as in mathematics and science.
Generally speaking, here are the steps involved:
Understanding the problem
Devising a plan
Carry out the plan
Analysing the results of the original problem
With your child, it could be interesting to carry out different investigative activities.
Although it's a good idea to limit daily screen time, it should also be noted that some video games, so-called serious or educational games, develop certain problem-solving strategies, in whole or in part.