The aim of Primary Mathematics within the Singapore Math curriculum is to allow students to develop their ability in mathematical problem solving. This includes using and applying mathematics in practical, real-life situations as well as within the discipline of mathematics itself. An important feature of learning mathematics within this curriculum is the use of a concrete introduction to the concept, followed by a pictorial representation, followed by the abstract symbols. Although each class covers many different concepts, only the core concepts required for mastery are listed here.
Students are placed into appropriate Math levels determined by functional mastery of concepts rather than by grade-level.
Math Prima
In Math Prima students will learn to tell stories about numbers based on pictures. They will play with concrete items (e.g. counters, stuffed animals, cereal, candy, linking cubes) to practice counting and sorting. Key concepts that will be learned include:
- numbers to 100 (focus on 1 through 20)
- number bonds
- basic addition
- basic subtraction
- comparison (more or fewer)
- calendar
- time
Math Secunda
In Math Secunda students will use concrete items, including base ten blocks, to provide a foundation for understanding mathematical concepts. Place value will be emphasized to master addition and subtraction facts. Key concepts that will be learned include:
- numbers to 1000
- addition (with and without renaming)
- subtraction (with and without renaming)
- multiplication (1 through 5 and 10)
- division (1 through 5 and 10)
Math Tertia
In Math Tertia students will learn to model addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems within 10,000 conceptually and to solve mentally and with algorithms. Long division will be introduced. Students will learn to use bar models to solve part-whole and comparison word problems. Key concepts that will be learned include:
- place value to 10,000
- adding and subtracting numbers within 10,000
- multiplication and division (0 through 10)
- long division
- measurement (length, weight, and capacity)
- money
- time
- fractions (comparing, equivalent, adding and subtracting)
Math Quarta
In Math Quarta students will learn what makes up a whole number. They will continue in their skills of the four arithmetic operations. Fractions will be taught more in depth. Decimals are introduced. Key concepts that will be learned include:
- place value into the millions
- whole numbers (factors, multiples, order of operations)
- 2 digit multiplication
- fractions (adding and subtracting like fractions, mixed numbers, improper fractions, division remainders as fractions, fractions of a set)
- decimals (introduction, rounding, four arithmetic operations)
- geometry
- area and perimeter
Math Quinta
In Math Quinta, students will now use the foundation of the four arithmetic operations mastered in previous years to study these concepts at an even deeper level. Key concepts that will be learned include:
- place value into the billions
- prime factorization
- least common multiple
- greatest common factor
- multiplying and dividing by a 2-digit number
- fractions (four mathematical operations, unlike fractions)
- decimals (multiply and divide by a 2-digit number)
- measures and volumes
- percentage (introduction, relation to fractions, percentage of a quantity)
Math Sexta
Math in Focus Course Book 1 is a series produced by Singapore Math that spans the 6th and 7th grade math program. The course covers equations and inequalities, the coordinate plan, area of polygons, circumference & area of circle, statistics, median/mean/mode, and more. Real life problems are included throughout all chapters.