Assessing First Graders Math Knowledge at Beginning of Year

~ Mrs. McGowan's First Grade ~

Assessing First Graders Math Knowledge
To be used at the beginning of the year in first grade.

1. Skill - Count and Write Numbers

Present each student with a grid and have them write numbers in order to 30:

2. Skill - Write and Show Numbers

Prepare several cards with stickers. Student counts the number of stickers on a card and writes it or tells the number.

_____________
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
______________

3. Skill - Compare Quantities

Using stickers on cards, lay out 3 cards, where two cards have the same number of stickers. Student has to selct the groups that have the same number:

Another way: Show pictures with varying number of objects - two monkeys, two lions, four cats

4. Skill - Problem Solving

Use felt pieces, or draw picture, use students in classroom to act out your mini-story:

Show a schoolbus and 4 bears. Ask: How many bears will get on the bus if 2 more come?
Once there were some bluebirds sitting on a tree branch. 3 of the birds flew away. How many are left? Now show a picture of 4 birds on a tree branch and 3 birds leaving. This would be fun to do using kids as birds.

5. Skill - Measure and Classify

Show 2 similar objects of different lengths, such as 2 strings. Ask which is longer:

Show 4 circles and 1 square (all colors). Student picks shape that does not belong and tells why.

Other possibilities for groups: use kids (boys/girl), books and pencil, cookies and juice, pattern blocks.

6. Skill - Shapes and Patterns

Put out 9 pictures of shapes or use pattern blocks (circles, triangles, squares, rectancles). Ask student to take away the ones that are not triangles.