Bridges in Mathematics Grade 1, Unit 8: Changes Changes Everywhere
In this unit, first graders wrap up the year by collecting data, or information, sorting it, and reading simple charts and tallies. They solve story problems about how things change and about how many more one group has. They also look again at what makes a shape a triangle or a square. It puts last unit's work with bigger numbers to use on real questions.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Unit 8?
- Solving story problems about change and comparison, like figuring out how many more children chose apples than pears. Learn more: Adding and subtracting story problems within 20
- Sorting things into up to three groups, recording them with tally marks or a chart, and answering how many in all. Learn more: Sorting, tallying, and reading simple charts
- Telling shapes apart by their sides and corners, and spotting how a shape stays the same when it changes size or direction. Learn more: What makes a triangle a triangle
Sample questions to try together
These are real questions from our practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
I had some toy cars. My friend gave me 3 more cars. Now I have 8 cars in total. How many toy cars did I have at first?
- 3
- 5
- 8
How you can help
- Survey the family about a favorite fruit with three choices and record the votes as tally marks on paper. Ask how many voted in all and how many more chose the winner.
- Watch something change over a week, like the number of bananas in the bowl, and keep a tally. Make up a story: "We had 9, now we have 4. What happened?"
- Draw a few triangles in different sizes and directions, plus a shape with a curved side, and ask which ones are triangles and how they know.
Where kids can get stuck
- Naming the biggest group's total when the question asks how many more one group has than another.
- Losing or double counting items while sorting, so the groups no longer add up to the whole.
- Accepting a shape with a curved side or a gap as a triangle because it has three corners.
Practice makes perfect
Bobby's Math Club has practice problems that adapt to your child’s level, each with a detailed explanation and an easy-to-follow video, so your child can build confidence in these skills one step at a time.
Words your child will hear
- data
- Information collected to answer a question, like everyone's favorite fruit.
- category
- A group that things are sorted into.
- tally mark
- A line drawn to count one thing; every fifth line crosses four.
- chart
- A table that shows information in rows and columns.
- how many more
- A question asking how much bigger one amount is than another.
- side
- A straight line that makes part of a shape's edge.
- vertex
- A corner, where two sides of a shape meet.
- triangle
- A closed shape with 3 straight sides and 3 corners.
Want to help your child master data and story problems?
In Bobby's Math Club, your child practices these skills at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free.
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Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Which math standards does Bridges in Mathematics Grade 1 Unit 8 cover?
Bridges in Mathematics Grade 1 Unit 8 covers these math standards. Each one links to what it means, sample questions, and teaching strategies.
For teachers: Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence. Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow.