Math Curriculum
Lower School
The Lower School Math program at the Girls’ School of Austin uses hands-on activities, manipulatives, and real world applications to practice and master the content in each grade level. The learning environment is open-ended, student- directed, and problem/inquiry focused. The program stresses mathematical reasoning, mathematical communication, and collaborative solution finding. The curriculum helps students apply math in other subjects and in daily life.
Kindergarten
The kindergarten Math curriculum exposes the girls to mathematical concepts through literature and real-life situations. Manipulatives and enriching games are integrated into instruction to further teach hands-on problem solving skills. The following mathematical objectives are introduced and developed in kindergarten math: sorting and classifying, geometry, numeration, graphing, patterns, spatial relations and positions, measurement, single-digit addition and subtraction, money, and time.
First Grade
The 1st grade curriculum focuses heavily on developing problem solving skills. Within each strand, girls are challenged to apply their knowledge of mathematics concepts through enriched, hands-on tasks. Through daily partner, group, and independent activities, students develop number sense in double-digit whole numbers, and strengthen their skills and understanding with respect to double-digit addition/subtraction facts, patterns, geometry, time to the hour and half-hour, coin counting, and measurement.
Second Grade
The 2nd grade Math curriculum solidifies basic facts from 1st grade, while extending skills to 3-digit addition and subtraction. Students explore place value, money, time to the quarter-hour, graphing, geometry, fractions, and beginning multiplication/division skills through hands-on investigations and logical reasoning activities. Basic measurement skills are practiced and extended using scientific investigations of balance, length, weight and volume. Manipulatives and games help students gain a concrete understanding of these concepts and support the activity-based environment.
Third Grade
The 3rd grade Math curriculum takes basic 1st and 2nd grade skills to the next level. Problem solving and high order thinking problems are strongly emphasized. Addition/subtraction skills are reviewed and extended up to 4-digit problems, and multiplication/division skills are further strengthened. Students reinforce their growing bank of mathematical skills and concepts (including place value, patterns, time and money, probability, geometry, graphing, fractions, decimals, and measurement) through hands-on activities involving games and the incorporation of technology.
Fourth Grade
Students in 4th grade are expected to gain mastery of the basic multiplication/division facts by using a variety of manipulatives, math centers, and problem solving skills to practice and strengthen understanding of each concept. Real life scenarios are used to help girls apply their math skills and learn problem solving strategies built upon previously learned concepts. Particular focus is placed on geometry, fractions, probability, place value, and decimals. Basic algebra skills will be introduced through Hands-On Equations by using manipulatives to relate abstract ideas using concrete examples.
Middle School
Fifth Grade
5th grade Math is a vigorous program designed to have GSA students prepared for Algebra I by their 8th grade year. The course uses the Middle Grades Math: Tools for Success, Course I textbook, curriculum content originally intended for 6th grade students. Particular attention is given to those areas that bridge the gap between traditional on-level 5th and 6th grade Math courses. Students work to incorporate new concepts and strengthened skills into their ongoing mathematical development in areas such as patterns and algebraic thinking, adding/subtracting decimals, multiplying/dividing whole numbers and decimals, understanding of and basic operations with fractions, ratios/proportions/percents, geometric formulas, graphing, and probability. The girls also use Hands-On-Equations (Borenson and Associates, Inc.), to learn pre-Algebra concepts through activities involving manipulatives.
Sixth Grade
6th grade math extends basic skills and moves students closer to Algebra. Students practice with whole numbers and exponents, understanding variables and expressions, and employing the order of operations. They utilize a variety of operations with decimals and fractions, and practice factoring and prime factorization. Students organize and plot data, becoming familiar with the graphing process and measures of central tendency. An introduction to geometry addresses polygon relationships, transformations, tessellations, and coordinate geometry. Students apply their understanding of mathematical concepts to determine perimeter, area, circumference, volume and surface area of solids. The year culminates with a study of probability and functions, connecting the students’ prior learning to algebraic concepts.
Seventh Grade
In 7th grade Math, students work to develop the skills, habits, and knowledge that will support them in Algebra. The curriculum begins with organizing data, understanding populations and samples, and interpreting visual representations of data. Students solidify mastery of basic operations with decimals and fractions, then apply this knowledge to proportion, ratio, and percent problems. An overview of geometry focuses on polygon relationships, including similar and congruent figures, transformations, symmetry and tessellations. Students explore area, volume, and surface area of complex figures, and use the Pythagorean Theorem to find triangle measurements. The year ends with the study of experimental and theoretical probability along with multi-step equations/inequalities/functions.
Eighth Grade
8th grade students begin with a review on solving equations and inequalities as well as number line graphing. The focus on graphing is extended to familiarize the girls with the (x, y) ordered pair coordinate plane. Over the course of the year, they learn to distinguish between and perform basic operations with whole, real, rational and irrational numbers, and integers, as well as to convert numbers from standard to scientific notation and vice versa. Measures of central tendency and rules for performing basic operations with exponential terms are also addressed. Geometry topics include patterns, perimeter, area, the Pythagorean Theorem, and characteristics of three-dimensional solid objects. Their exploration of ratio and proportion leads to work with similar/congruent shapes, theoretical and experimental probability, and a more in-depth conceptualization of counting and sample space. Students learn and apply the elimination, substitution, and matrix methods for solving systems of equations, the FOIL process for multiplying binomials, and the sum/product technique of factoring trinomials. The girls end the year with a brief introduction to mathematical relations, functions, and functional notation.
Algebra I
Algebra students learn how to translate number patterns and “real life” mathematical questions into variables and equations that can be manipulated and solved. Students synthesize cumulative knowledge to understand the principles and concepts underlying familiar shortcuts, and begin to derive formulas to describe procedures. They learn and practice multiple ways to approach problems and check solutions. In Algebra I, students develop logical approaches, precise procedures, and effective strategies for improving performance and avoiding common mistakes. They increase familiarity with tech-tools like the graphing calculator, and increase their understanding of how calculators and computers are designed to work with respect to solving math problems. Students recognize and appreciate how mathematics interrelates with science, music, art, sports, literature and history.