Math Skills BrushUp with Kids Academy: Transitioning from Kindergarten to Grade 1
July 18, 2025
Transitioning in the early grades, specifically from Kindergarten to 1st grade, can be an exciting time for young students especially in math. Through my experience as an educator I have seen that over the summer kids can lose most of the progress they worked on all year to gain. With the excitement of summer some forget to regularly practice, or don’t want to bog children down with too much over their break. However, keeping math skills fresh doesn’t have to be boring.
Below are some of the most important math skills to review from kindergarten and key concepts to preview for 1st grade, paired with online Kids Academy activities and fun off screen ideas to keep learning lighthearted and hands-on.
From my time in the classroom, I can tell you that math confidence isn’t something that can just happen overnight. It grows with small moments of success( seen throughout the year), and summer is the ideal time to add in those moments at home. The skills I highlight below are the ones I used to reteach in the first few weeks of 1st grade, so staying sharp on them makes a noticeable difference.
REVIEWING KINDERGARTEN MATH SKILLS
1. Counting to 20
What it is: Counting out loud and with one to one correspondence (touching one object at a time while counting) up to 20.
Why it matters: This skill is important as it builds number sense and lays the groundwork for harder math concepts in the future. In 1st grade students build on this by skip counting, counting to 10 and understanding place value. I’ve seen in the classroom that without solid counting skills, students often struggle with skip counting and place value.
Try These:
- Lesson: Count to 20
- Quiz: Counting Objects Quiz
- More practice: Check out this math learning collection of many more fun counting to 20 activities.
Off-Screen Fun: Snack time is a great time to incorporate some of these skills. Count out 10 grapes, crackers, or any snack time item. Ask your child to count forward and backwards and even count down as they eat their snack. See how far they can count up or count down. I used to call it "Snack Math" in my classroom, my students loved it because they got to eat their answers.
2. Number Recognition and Writing
What it is: Identifying and writing numbers from 0 to 20.
Why it matters: This skill is essential for reading problems, solving equations, and understanding number value. Recognizing and writing numbers correctly ensures children can read and solve math problems in 1st grade. Often, children who miswrite or confuse numbers often misread problems entirely which can lead to major frustration and comprehension issues with more complex problems.
Try These:
- Video: Learning Numbers
- Quiz: Counting 1-20
- More practice: Check out this catalog of many more activities on writing numbers up to 20.
Off-Screen Fun: Sidewalk chalk is a staple in early childhood activities in and outside of the classroom. Grab some chalk and call out numbers for your child to jump on or draw shapes next to each number. I used to write "parking spots" on the playground with chalk and have kids roll toy cars to the matching number. Even just a simple game of hop scotch with children calling out the numbers they land on.
3. Comparing Numbers
What it is: Knowing which number is greater, less, or equal.
Why it matters: This skill builds logic and prepares children to think about different quantities. In 1st grade students compare and contrast using symbols (>,<,=) and they begin to order numbers up to 120. Starting this skill in kindergarten builds the critical thinking needed to analyze relationships between the numbers. When speaking to 1st grade teachers that acquired my previous kindergarten students, those who practiced this skill grasped the meaning of comparing and contrasting numbers faster than those who did not.
Try These:
- Video: Comparing Numbers
- Worksheet: Which Has More
- Quiz: How Many More/Less Quiz
- More practice: Check out this collection of many more comparing numbers activities.
Off-Screen Fun: Play "Which Has More?" using toys, snacks, or anything you have multiple of at home. Let your child make guesses and count to confirm. In class, we often compared crayons, building blocks, or marbles. It is simple but very effective.
4. Recognizing 2D Shapes
What it is: Identifying circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles.
Why it matters: Builds early geometry skills and spatial awareness. In 1st grade students begin to identify sides and corners of shapes and even start dividing them into pieces. Recognizing and naming shapes in kindergarten sets the visual foundation for understanding these more complex concepts. I have seen how students with a strong shape foundation grasp basic fractions faster as they can already “see” parts within a whole.
Try These:
- Worksheet: Match It Up
- Video: What Shape Am I?
- More practice: Check out this catalog of many more 2D shape activities.
Off-Screen Fun: Go on a shape scavenger hunt inside or outside. Can your child spot a circle, square, and triangle before lunch or the next activity. During morning meetings with my kinder students, I typically play the name the shape game making sure I visit shapes we have previously identified. Students love pointing out the shapes of everything. Move on to 3D shapes if you feel your child has mastered identifying 2D shapes.
PREVIEWING 1ST GRADE MATH SKILLS
If you feel your child has mastered the previous skills, you can always move on to math skills they will use in 1st grade. The following skills are a preview of what your child will see, the more practice the better.
5. Basic Addition Within 10
What it is: Adding numbers using objects or fingers up to 10.
Why it matters: Sets the stage for being fluent with mental math and future problem solving. After your child is able to count and recognize numbers up to ten, the next step is to start adding fluently. They start solving word problems in 1ft grade and being fluent depends on their comfort with small numbers. Students who entered the 1st grade fluent in counting and recognizing numbers were much quicker to grasp the concept of addition and not just the procedure. I have seen students who still struggle with this even in the upper grades and it all stems from not having a strong number sense foundation.
Try These:
- Video: Adding Numbers
- Worksheet: Picture Addition to 10
- Quiz: Addition Practice
- More practice: Check out this learning collection of addition practice activities.
Off-Screen Fun: Use stuffed animals, blocks, marbles,even socks to solve problems like "3 animals go to the park, then 2 more join. How many now?" In class I often used finger puppets or stories that included the students to make this come alive and get students engaged.
TIPS TO MAKE SUMMER MATH COUNT
- Keep it short and sweet: Aim for 10–20 minutes a few times a week. You do not want to make this a stressful addition to the summer. The more fun they have the better chance they have to master each skill.
- Use their interests: If they love dinosaurs or race cars, count and sort with those. Children will buy in more if they are interested.
- Celebrate trying: Anything you can think of to give as a reward works. Stickers, high fives, or even simple praise can go a long way. Celebrate every right answer to build confidence in their math skills.
EXPLORE MORE
Explore full categories for more math practice:
By keeping these math skills fresh and fun over the summer, you’re giving your child a leg up for the year ahead. As someone who’s greeted many nervous 1st graders on the first day of school, I can say with confidence the kids who kept math skills alive over summer walk into that classroom with more confidence that gives them a great start to the school year.