Kindergarten math concepts or curriculum

Find here many important kindergarten math concepts taught in kindergarten. Teachers, parents, and math tutors can also use them as a guideline to illustrate a math lesson or to teach important skills.

Above
A figure is above something if the figure is located on top of that thing.
Looking at the figure below, we see that the bowl is located above the table.

Above the table



Below
A figure is below something if the figure is located at the bottom of that thing.
Looking at the figure below, we see that the the bowl is located below the table.

Below the table



Add
When we add 3 stars to 2 stars, it is equal to five stars.

Illustration of adding three and two



Circle
A circle is a round plane figure. To illustrate the concept, show kids coins, bicycle wheels, pizzas, or pies.

Illustration of a circle



Numeral
Students learn some ways to write down quantity. 
A numeral is a symbol or name used to represent a number. 
For example, 6, VI, and six are numerals representing the number 6.

Examples of numerals for the number 7



Triangle
A triangle is a closed plane figure with 3 sides.

Illustration of a triangle



Addend
An addend is a number that is added to one or more numbers.
For example in 3 + 4 + 1, 4 is an addend.
 There are three addends in the addition problem shown below.

Addends



Cylinders
To illustrate the concept, show kids candles, drink cans, pipes, or
1.5-volt Alkaline batteries.

Examples of cylinder



Sum
The sum is the answer that you get when you add two, three, or more numbers.
The sum of 3, 4, and 1 is 8.

Sum



Digit
6 is a digit. 0 is a digit. However, 60 is not a digit! 60 is a number.

Digits from to zero to nine



Expression
Kids only need to know about numerical expression. A numerical expression is a mathematical sentence that have numbers and operations. For example, 6 + 4 is a numerical expression. A numerical expression has no equal sign!

12 + 5 is a numerical expression in math



Line
A line is a long small mark made by a pencil, pen, or another object. A line has two arrows. A line has no end on the right and on the left. This is shown with arrows.

Line



Longer or Shorter

The Ipad 2 is longer than the ipad mini.

The Ipad mini is shorter than the ipad 2.

The ipad on the left is longer than the ipad on the right.



Sequence
A sequence is a list of numbers ordered in a specific way. For example, 2, 4, 6, ... is a sequence or list of numbers that is ordered by adding 2 to the previous number.
The next few numbers in the sequence below are 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Sequence


Subtract
For example, we can subtract 1 from 4 to get 3.
4 - 1 = 3

4 soccer balls - 1 soccer ball = 3 soccer balls


Taller/Shorter
Looking at the figure below, the man on the right is taller than the man on the left. The man on the left is shorter than the man on the right.

The man on the right is taller than the man on the left.

More important kindergarten math concepts to teach to students



Place value
For 26, the place value of 2 is 20 and the place value of 6 is 6.

Place value of 26 using base ten blocks


Equation
An equation has an equal sign. For example, 8 + 4 = 12 is an equation. 

Equation


Decompose a number
For example, we can decompose 36 into 30 + 4.

Decompose a number


Difference 
The difference is the answer that you get when you subtract one number from another number. For example, 
the difference of 8 and 3 is 5.

Difference between 8 and 3 is 5


Less than
For example, 3 is less than 9. Looking at the figure below, we see that there are less soccer balls than tennis balls.

2 soccer balls is less than 4 tennis balls


Heavier and lighter
The ball on the left is heavier than the ball on the right. 
The ball on the right is lighter than the ball on the left.

Heavier and lighter


Greater than
For example, 10 is greater than 4. In the figure below, there are more tennis balls than soccer balls.

4 tennis balls is more than 2 soccer balls


Spheres
To illustrate the concept, show kids a soccer ball, marbles, or the Moon.

Examples of sphere


Classify

Classify



Examples of a cone
To illustrate the concept, show kids ice cream cones, or traffic cones.

Examples of cones


Sorting shapes
Put things that are the same in the same basket.

Sorting shapes


Length
The length refers to how long something is. The length of the soccer ball is 2 units.

Length


Quantity
Count the number of pencils one-by-one to get the quantity. If you count the pencils shown below, the quantity is 5.

Quantity


Equal to
For example, 15 is equal to 15 (15 = 15).
The number of pencils is equal to the number of soccer balls.

Equal to

Things to keep in mind about the kindergarten math concepts on this page

1. Make sure that students understand most of the math skills above taught in kindergarten math. If you would like to measure their understanding of math skills taught in kindergarten math, please check this kindergarten math test.

2. These kindergarten math concepts are in line with kindergarten math common core state standards.