Lesson 1: Mathematics in the Primary Grades

Objective
Describe the importance of mathematics in the primary grades
Introduction
Mathematics in the primary grades lays the foundations not only of mathematics
content but also of life skills essential in the 21 st century. This lesson briefly discusses the
characteristics of children in the primary grades and the importance f teaching mathematics at
this level.
Think
Contrary to the common assumption that math is difficult, especially for children,
young learners actually tend to enjoy and appreciate math. Children naturally find wonder in
patterns and take delight in challenging puzzles. Therefore, it is important to harness this innate
love for mathematical procedures to develop a positive disposition toward math. This can be
done by preparing activities that bridge the abstract concepts of mathematics to the concrete
world that the children know about. As a teacher, your rule is to create an engaging and
encouraging environment for young learners to thrive in.
Even before children enter formal schooling, they already have intuitive and informal
understandings about numbers and shapes. As they enter school, they begin to formally learn
concepts of numbers and the operations that govern them. In the Philippines, primary grades
refer to Kinder until Grade 3. Generally, primary grades completers are expected to have a
good sense of numbers, perform simple operations like addition and subtraction, have the
capacity to progress from using physical examples and written calculations to carrying out
operations mentally, and have the ability to identify proper strategies and techniques needed to
come to conclusions and carry out calculations when solving mathematical problems. In the
succeeding lessons, you will learn more about the content of the mathematics curriculum in the
Philippines.
Some experts argue on whether it is healthy practice to start formally teaching math at
an early age. They point out that children may not yet be developmentally prepared to learn
abstract concepts. However, Jean Piaget (1963), a Swiss psychologist known for his theory on
children’s cognitive development, believed that children’s developmental stages in cognition
were done through stages of thought process – sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete
operational, and formal operational. These stages suggest that the idea of numbers can be
already learn by children at an early age. Those who pursue teaching mathematics in the
primary grades have the following arguments:
1. Learners fins mathematics relevant in every life – telling time, handling money,
measuring objects, etc;
2. Teaching math in the primary grades provides opportunities for children to develop
their thinking skills as they solve problem. These skills which include reasoning and
creative thinking are important in upper-grade math and in life; and
 3. Numerous researches have proven that the mathematical ability of children in the early
predicts their performance not only in higher-level mathematics but also in reading.

Experience
Teachers can develop and implement effective lessons only when they know their
learners. Following are the general characteristics of learners that you can expect when you
enter a primary grade classroom.
Physical extremely active and enjoys physical activities
Social beginning to have a choice of friends but frequently
quarrels with them
Emotional becoming sensitive to criticism and other’s feeling; eager
to please the teacher
Cognitive sees patterns, engages in problem-solving activities,
learns a lot through self-talk
Taking into account these characteristics will aid you in designing efficient, effective,
and motivational learning activities.
Assess
Answer the following questions to verbalize your understanding of teaching
mathematics in the primary grades.
1. In your own words, describe the importance of teaching mathematics in the primary
grades.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Why is it important for children to develop a positive disposition in learning
mathematics?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Challenge
The following activity will practice your research skills and reasoning ability. It will
also strengthen your opinion on the importance of learning math in the primary grades.
Research about some arguments of educators who believe that mathematics should not
be taught in the primary grades. Write each argument in the left column. Then, write a rebuttal
for each claim.

Arguments on Why
Mathematics Should Not Be Rebuttals
Taught in the Primary Grades

Argument 1:

Argument 2:

Argument 3:

Harness
The next activity will expose you to an actual mathematics class. You will do numerous
classroom observations throughout this module. In this particular activity, you will focus your
observation on the characteristics of primary grade students. This activity will be part of the
learning portfolio which you will compile at the end of this module.
Observe a Grade 1 math class. Focus your observation on the characteristics of the
students. On the right column of the table below, write specific examples on how the
characteristics on the left column are exhibited by the children you observed.
 Characteristics of Primary Learners Examples Based on Classroom Observation

extremely active and enjoys

Physical
physical activities

beginning to have a choice of

Social friends but frequently
quarrels with them

becoming sensitive to
Emotional criticism and other’s feelings;
eager to please the teacher

sees patterns, engages in

Cognitive problem-solving activities,
learns a lot through self-talk

What other characteristics have you observed?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Summary
Children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive developmental characteristics
give evidence of their innate interest and ability to learn mathematics and these must all come
together in designing an engaging and encouraging mathematics learning environment.
Lesson 2: Mathematics Curriculum in the Primary Grades

Objectives
Demonstrate understanding and appreciation of the mathematics curriculum in the
primary grade

Introduction
“ Mathematics is a skills subject. It is all about quantities, shapes and figures, functions,
logic and reasoning. Mathematics is also a tool of science and a language complete with its
own notations and symbols and grammar rules with which concepts and ideas are effectively
expressed” (DepEd Mathematics Curriculum Guide, August 2016).
This lesson will guide you in understanding the Philippines’ mathematics curriculum
in the primary grades.

Think
The K-12 mathematics curriculum categorizes content into five content areas: Numbers
and Number Sense, Measurement, Geometry, Patterns and Algebra, and Statistics and
Probability.
1. Numbers and Number Sense – concepts of numbers, properties, operations, estimation,
and their applications
2. Measurement – the use of numbers and measures to describe, understand, and compare
mathematical and concrete objects; attributes such as length, mass and weight, capacity,
time, money, and temperature, as well as applications involving perimeter, area, surface
area, volume, and angle measure
3. Geometry – properties of two – and three – dimensional figures and their relationships,
spatial visualization, reasoning, and geometric modeling and proofs
4. Patterns and Algebra as a strand studies patterns, relationships, and changes among
shapes and quantities; use of algebraic notations and symbols, equations, and most
importantly, functions, to represent and analyze relationships skills are always
considered; and mathematics in the context of real-life situations should be the main
considerations in designing mathematics activities.

Experience
In Piaget’s four stages of cognitive development, students in the primary grades fall
under the second stage – the preoperational stage. Children in this stage begin to think
symbolically as they use words and pictures to represent real objects. However, they still tend
to think about concepts in very concrete manner.
 Now study the curriculum of Grade 1 to 3. Do you think the mentioned cognitive
characteristics of children in the preoperational stage were considered in the content standards
of Grade 1 to 3 mathematics? Explain your thoughts.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Assess
A lot of teachers in the field are confused about the difference between content
standards, performance standards, and learning competencies. It is important that you
understand them and their importance as they serve as the skeleton of the mathematics
curriculum.
In your own understanding, explain the differences between content standards,
performance standards, and learning competencies. What is the importance of each?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Challenge
We can truly comprehend our own curriculum when we get a clear picture of others’
curricula. This is the context of comparative studies in education. The following activity will
challenge you to study other countries’ curricula in order to better understand the Philippines’
mathematics curriculum.
Read about the mathematics curriculum of the Philippines, Singapore, and United
States. Compare and contrast the curricula of the three countries in terms of the five content
areas.

Content Area Philippines Singapore United States

Numbers and Number Sense

Measurement

Geometry

Patterns and Algebra

 Statistics and Probability

Harness
In every math lesson, the teacher must keep three things in mind – (1)
what is to be learned, (2) where the students are coming from, and (3) where the
students are going with what they will learn. The following activity will help
you develop the skill of mapping every competency you teach. This will be part
of the learning portfolio which you will compile at the end of this module.
Choose three learning competencies in Grade 2. In each competency, find
the prerequisite in Grade 1 and the competencies in G rade 3 wherein your chosen
Grade 2 competency is a prerequisite of.

Prerequisite Grade 1
Grade 2 Competency Grade 3 Competency
Competency

Summary
The Philippines’ mathematics curriculum under the K – 12 program promotes critical
thinking and creativity. Moreover, content standards, performance standards, and learning
competencies are explicitly stated to guide teachers in developing their lessons.
Lesson 3: Constructive Theory in Teaching Mathematics in the Primary Grades

Objectives
Demonstrate understanding