Kindergarten Unit Summaries
Unit 1: Counting People, Sorting Buttons
Classroom Routines and Materials
This unit introduces the processes, structures, and materials that form the basis of math instruction throughout the year and establishes the mathematical community.
Unit 2: Counting Quantities, Comparing Lengths
Counting and Measurement 1
This unit focuses on connecting number names, numerals, and quantities; counting and developing visual images of quantities up to 10; comparing and ordering two or more amounts; and describing and measuring the length of objects by direct comparison. Students develop strategies for accurately counting quantities up to 10.
Unit 3: Make a Shape, Fill a Hexagon
2-D Geometry
This unit focuses on on identifying, describing, and comparing attributes of 2-D shapes, naming shapes, considering the features of specific shapes (e.g., a triangle has three sides and three vertices), and composing and decomposing shapes from and into smaller shapes. Throughout the unit, students hear and use positional language to describe the location of the shapes they are working with.
Unit 4: Collect, Count, and Measure
Counting and Measurement 2
This unit focuses on counting and representing sets of up to 15 objects, applying counting skills by using multiple units to measure and compare lengths, decomposing numbers in many different ways, and beginning to make sense of the operations of addition and subtraction. Students act out story problems and play games that involve counting, comparing, and finding the total when a small amount is added or taken away.
Unit 5: Build a Block, Build a Wall
3-D Geometry
This unit focuses on identifying, describing, and comparing attributes of 3-D shapes (e.g., a cube has 6 congruent faces), naming 3-D shapes, constructing 3-D shapes, and composing and decomposing 3-D shapes from and into smaller shapes. Students look for 3-D shapes in their environment and describe and compare the shapes they find.
Unit 6: How Many Now?
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System 1
This unit focuses on counting sets of up to 20 objects; decomposing the numbers to 10 in a variety of ways (e.g., 7 can be seen as 5 and 2 or as 3 and 2 and 2); using notation to describe addition and subtraction situations; finding and exploring combinations of a number; and solving addition and subtraction story problems. Students work on accurate counting strategies and revisit addition and subtraction situations, including story problems, which they model, solve and represent on paper.
Unit 7: How Many Noses? How Many Eyes?
Modeling with Data
This unit focuses on describing attributes of objects and data, and using this information to sort, classify, count, order, compare, and represent data, and to use this data to model real-world problems with mathematics. It also extends work with counting by 1s and introduces students to the counting sequences of 2s and 10s.
Unit 8: Ten Frames and Teen Numbers
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System 2
This unit focuses on extending the counting sequence to 100, including counting from numbers other than 1 and by 10s, adding and subtracting in a variety of contexts, and making sense of the teen numbers as a group of ten ones and some number of leftover ones. Students solve story problems, relate a problem to the equation it represents, and make up and solve stories for given expressions. Students develop fluency with addition and subtraction within 5, find the complement of 10 when given one addend, and work with the teen numbers.
Grade 1 Unit Summaries
Unit 1: Building Numbers and Solving Story Problems
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System 1
This unit focuses on counting and comparing quantities, connecting counting to the operations of addition and subtraction, and developing an understanding of and strategies for solving addition and subtraction problems via story problems and games.
Unit 2: Comparing and Combining Shapes
2-D Geometry
This unit focuses on observing and describing defining attributes of 2-D shapes, using those attributes to build, compare, and sort 2-D shapes, and composing and decomposing 2-D shapes. Students describe, name, and compare attributes of 2-D shapes, particularly triangles and quadrilaterals.
Unit 3: How Many of Each? How Many in All?
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System 2
This unit focuses on counting on/back as a strategy for adding/subtracting; composing and decomposing numbers into two or more parts and playing games that involve an unknown change; adding more than two numbers; expanding students’ understanding of addition and subtraction notation, in particular the meaning of the equal sign; and counting and comparing larger quantities.
Unit 4: Fish Lengths and Fraction Rugs
Measurement and Fractions
This unit focuses on developing accurate techniques for linear measurement, solving comparison problems about length, and on ideas about time and fractions as equal parts of a whole. Students measure the lengths of various objects and compare two lengths. They observe and describe shapes (circles, squares, rectangles) that are (and are not) divided into halves and fourths, and partition shapes to show halves and fourths.
Unit 5: Number Games and Crayon Problems
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System 3
This unit focuses on developing fluency with addition and subtraction within 10, including the 2-addend combinations of 10, understanding of the meaning of the equal sign as a symbol of equivalence, and deepening students’ understanding of addition and subtraction through problems and games that involve finding an unknown addend or an unknown change.
Unit 6: Would You Rather Be an Eagle or a Whale?
Modeling with Data
This unit focuses on collecting, recording, representing, describing and comparing data in two and three categories, and on conducting data investigations. As students engage in their own surveys, they use data to model real-world problems with mathematics.
Unit 7: How Many Tens? How Many Ones?
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System 4
This unit focuses on counting by numbers other than 1, with an emphasis on groups of 10; adding and subtracting 10 from a 2-digit number, and subtracting a multiple of 10 from a multiple of 10; and on representing 2-digit numbers with tens and ones and using those models to add within 100. Students represent numbers as tens and ones to compare and add numbers within 100.
Unit 8: Blocks and Buildings
3-D Geometry
This unit focuses on observing, describing, comparing, and building 3-D shapes and on developing vocabulary for naming and describing defining attributes of 2-D and 3-D shapes. Students identify and compare attributes of 3-D shapes, compose and decompose 3-D shapes, and explore the relationship between 2-D and 3-D shapes.
Grade 2 Unit Summaries
Unit 1: Coins, Number Strings, and Story Problems
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System 1
This unit focuses on adding and subtracting single-digit numbers, focusing particularly on adding numbers in any order; shifting from counting by 1s to counting by groups, particularly groups of tens and ones, which lays the foundation for students’ work with place value and the base-10 number system; and developing and refining strategies for solving a variety of addition and subtraction problems.
Unit 2: Attributes of Shapes and Parts of a Whole
Geometry and Fractions
This unit focuses on observing and describing defining attributes of 2-D and 3-D shapes (e.g., number and shape of faces, number and length of sides, and number of angles and vertices), and using those attributes as they sort, construct, draw, and compare shapes. This unit also develops ideas about equal parts of a whole, focusing specifically on partitioning and describing halves, fourths, and thirds of one whole and recognizing that the same equal part of a whole (e.g. one half of a square) can be different shapes.
Unit 3: How Many Stickers? How Many Cents?
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System 2
This unit focuses on the place value of 2-digit numbers, and operating on those numbers within 100. They solve a variety of types of story problems and play games that involve combining amounts to get to 100 or $1. Work on fluency with addition and subtraction within 100 continues, with a focus on using known facts and knowledge of the operation. Students also identify, read, and write numbers to 500, and mentally add and subtract 10 to numbers in that range.
Unit 4: Pockets, Teeth, and Guess My Rule
Modeling with Data
This unit focuses on sorting and classifying categorical data; ordering numerical data; and collecting and representing categorical and numerical data using a variety of representations: student-generated representations, picture graphs, bar graphs, Venn diagrams, cube towers, and line plots. Students describe the data, and discuss what the data tell them about the group surveyed. In doing so students develop the ability to model with data, aspects of their world.
Unit 5: How Many Tens? How Many Hundreds?
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System 3
This unit focuses on the place value of 3-digit numbers and operating on numbers within 100.
Students solve a variety of types of story problems and play games that involve combining amounts to get to 100 or $1. Work on fluency with addition and subtraction within 100 continues, with a focus on using known facts and knowledge of the operations. Fluency with addition within 100 is a benchmark in this unit. Students also identify, read, and write numbers to 1,000 and add and subtract 10 and 100 to numbers in that range.
Unit 6: How Far Can You Jump?
Linear Measurement
This unit focuses on developing strategies for accurately measuring length with nonstandard and standard units and tools and for considering the relationship between different units and tools (e.g., the larger the unit, the smaller the count will be). Students represent measurement data on a line plot and also solve story problems that involve adding, subtracting and comparing lengths.
Unit 7: Partners, Teams, and Other Groups
Foundations of Multiplication
The focus of this unit is on working with equal groups as the foundation of multiplication by investigating even and odd numbers and by representing equal groups with arrays and tables.
Unit 8: Enough for the Class? Enough for the Grade? (20 Sessions)
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System 4
This unit focuses on developing and achieving fluency with subtraction within 100, and on achieving fluency with addition and subtraction facts within 20. Students investigate how the strategies they know and use for adding and subtracting 2-digit numbers translate to adding and subtracting 3-digit numbers, represented with place-value notation.
Grade 3 Unit Summaries
Unit 1: Understanding Equal Groups
Multiplication and Division 1
This unit focuses on understanding the meaning of multiplication, modeling multiplication using arrays, and understanding the inverse relationship between multiplication and division. Students use arrays, and known facts, to develop fluency with the multiplication facts, and are assessed on those that involve multiplying numbers to 10 by 1, 2, 5 and 10.
Unit 2: Graphs and Line Plots
Modeling with Data
This unit focuses on using bar graphs, pictographs, and line plots to represent, describe, and compare categorical and numerical data. They solve one- and two-step “how many more” and “how many less” problems using information presented in the graphs.
Unit 3: Travel Stories and Collections
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System 1
This unit focuses on understanding and extending knowledge of place value and the number system to 1,000, and adding and subtracting accurately and efficiently. Students represent numbers as hundreds, tens, and ones, and find equivalent ways to use 100s, 10s, and 1s to represent a given number. They also develop strategies for adding and subtracting 2-digit and 3-digit numbers Students encounter a variety of different addition and subtraction problems types.
Unit 4: Perimeter, Area, and Polygons
2-D Geometry and Measurement
This unit focuses on understanding and finding perimeter and area using standard units of measurement, and on classifying 2-D figures. Students use standard measurement tools to measure the length of objects and perimeter of figures. They use square units to measure area. Students build on work connecting arrays and multiplication, and find area by multiplying length and width. Students also identify attributes of triangles and quadrilaterals, and explore different categories of quadrilaterals.
Unit 5: Cube Patterns, Arrays, and Multiples of 10
Multiplication and Division 2
This unit focuses on the meaning and structure of multiplication and division and the relationship between them, solving multiplication and division problems, multiplying by multiples of 10, and learning the remaining multiplication facts to 10 × 10. Students solve story problems involving multiplying single-digit numbers by multiples of 10.
Unit 6: Fair Shares and Fractions on Number Lines
Fractions
This unit focuses on understanding the meaning of fractions as numbers and as equal parts of a whole; reasoning about equivalent fractions; comparing fractions; and using notation to model fractions and fraction relationships. Students build their knowledge of fractions and fraction equivalents as they represent and compare fractional quantities, including fractions greater than one, with pattern blocks and on the number line.
Unit 7: How Many Miles?
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System 2
This unit focuses on understanding the operations of addition and subtraction, and adding and subtracting fluently. Students add multiples of 10 and 100 to, and subtract them from, 3-digit numbers.
Unit 8: Larger Numbers and Multi-Step Problems
Multiplication and Division 3
This unit focuses on solving multiplication and division problems, learning the division facts, identifying arithmetic patterns, and solving multi-step problems. Students develop strategies to solve multiplication and division problems, including problems with remainders.
Grade 4 Unit Summaries
Unit 1: Arrays, Factors, and Multiplicative Comparison
Multiplication and Division 1
This unit focuses on using arrays and multiplicative comparison problems to understand multiplication, and gaining familiarity with factors and multiples. Students use arrays to model multiplication situations and to find factors and identify prime numbers to 100. They use what they know about factors of 100 to find factors of multiples of 100, and examine the idea that factors of a number are also factors of a multiple of that number.
Unit 2: Generating and Representing Measurement Data
Modeling with Data
This unit focuses on using line plots to represent, describe, and compare measurement data; on modeling real-world problems with mathematics; and on constructing arguments based on data. Students collect measurement data and use line plots to represent and analyze the data.
Unit 3: Multiple Towers and Cluster Problems
Multiplication and Division 2
This unit focuses on solving multiplication problems with 2-digit numbers, understanding the meaning and structure of, and the relationship between, multiplication and division, and using that understanding to solve multiplication and division problems. Students use arrays to explore the distributive property of multiplication. They solve and represent division story problems, including problems with remainders.
Unit 4: Measuring and Classifying Shapes
2-D Geometry and Measurement
This unit focuses investigating attributes of two-dimenstional and three-dimensional shapes and how these attributes determine their classification. Students measure perimeter, area, and angles and explore mirror symmetry.
Unit 5: Large Numbers and Landmarks
Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System
This unit focuses on understanding the meaning of addition and subtraction, understanding the base-10 number system with numbers to 1,000,000, and adding and subtracting multi-digit numbers fluently, including with the U.S. standard algorithms.
Unit 6: Fraction Cards and Decimal Grids
Fractions and Decimals
This unit focuses on understanding the meaning of fractions and decimals and comparing fractions and decimals including finding equivalents. Students use contexts and representations such as rectangles (an area model) and number lines (a linear model) to add, subtract, and multiply fractions.
Unit 7: How Many Packages and Groups?
Multiplication and Division 3
This unit focuses on the operations of multiplication and division, including problems involving converting measurements. Students refine their strategies for solving multiplication problems with two 2-digit numbers and with a 4-digit number and a 1-digit number, and they use the relationship between multiplication and division to develop and practice strategies for solving division problems with up to a 4-digit dividend and a 1-digit divisor.
Unit 8: Penny Jars and Towers
Analyzing Patterns and Rules
This unit focuses on solving multi-step problems, generating and analyzing patterns, and using symbolic notation to model situations.
Grade 5 Unit Summaries
Unit 1: Puzzles, Clusters, and Towers
Multiplication and Division 1
This unit focuses on the operations of multiplication and division. Students refine their strategies for solving multiplication problems with 2-digit numbers, and use the relationship between multiplication and division to develop and practice strategies for solving division problems. They use order of operations to solve computation problems.
Unit 2: Prisms and Solids
3-D Geometry and Measurement
This unit focuses on the structure and volume of three-dimensional (3-D) shapes, specifically on rectangular prisms and solids composed of rectangular prisms. Students build models and patterns for boxes that hold quantities of cubes and calculate the volume of these boxes, using a cube as a unit of measure. Students use standard units of measure for volume and apply formulas for volume.
Unit 3: Rectangles, Clocks, and Tracks
Rational Numbers 1: Addition and Subtraction
This unit focuses on deepening and extending students’ understanding of fractions and equivalent fractions and representing fractions using an area model (rectangles), a rotation model (a clock), and a linear model (number lines). They use these understandings to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers.
Unit 4: How Many People and Teams?
Multiplication and Division 2
This unit focuses on the operations of multiplication and division. Students refine their strategies for solving multiplication problems fluently, including using the U.S. standard algorithm. Students continue using the relationship between multiplication and division to efficiently solve division problems with 4-digit dividends and 2-digit divisors.
Unit 5: Temperature, Height, and Growth
Analyzing Patterns and Rules
This unit focuses on using coordinate graphs, ordered pairs, tables, and symbolic notation to model real world and mathematical situations. Students analyze arithmetic patterns in tables and the shapes of graphs to describe and compare these situations.
Unit 6: Between 0 and 1
Rational Numbers 2: Addition and Subtraction
This unit focuses on deepening and extending students’ understanding of decimals and the base-10 number system. Students represent decimals on grids and number lines. They use their understanding of decimals to compare, add, and subtract decimals.
Unit 7: Races, Arrays, and Grids
Rational Numbers 3: Multiplication and Division
This unit focuses on multiplying and dividing rational numbers, which includes extending students’ understanding of the meaning of those operations and of place value. Students use contexts and representations (fraction bars, arrays, and grids) to solve problems involving multiplication and division of fractions and decimals. Students also apply their understandings of multiplication and division to solve measurement conversion problems.
Unit 8: Properties of Polygons
2-D Geometry and Measurement
This unit focuses on classifying triangles and quadrilaterals based on their properties and on using patterns to describe how the perimeters and areas of rectangles change when the dimensions of the rectangle change. Students examine how categories of polygons are related and how a figure can belong to more than one category. As they build sequences of related rectangles, they analyze numerical relationships and practice adding and multiplying mixed numbers and decimals.