Illustrative Mathematics Grade 1, Unit 7: Geometry and Time
In this unit, first graders reason about shapes by their attributes, or features, build bigger shapes from smaller ones, and split shapes into halves and fourths. They use those equal shares to tell time to the hour and half hour. It follows measuring length in the last unit, and next they put the whole year's work together.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Unit 7?
- Telling time to the hour and half hour, connecting half past to the minute hand going halfway around. Learn more: Telling time to the hour and half hour
- Describing and sorting shapes by sides and corners, and drawing a shape that matches a description. Learn more: What makes a triangle a triangle
- Composing shapes, like making a trapezoid from three triangles, and seeing smaller shapes inside bigger ones. Learn more: Building bigger shapes from smaller ones
- Partitioning circles and rectangles into halves and fourths and describing each share as half of or a quarter of the whole. Learn more: Halves and quarters of circles and rectangles
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
What time does the clock show?
- 12:00
- 2:00
- 1:00
How you can help
- Draw a shape for your child to guess from clues, like "It has 4 sides and 4 square corners, but it isn't a square." Then switch roles.
- Fold a paper plate in half and then in half again, and talk about how half of the plate looks like half an hour on a clock.
- Notice the time aloud on the hour and half hour, like "It's 4:00, four o'clock," and ask your child to read the next one.
Where kids can get stuck
- Missing the triangles hiding inside a trapezoid built from smaller pieces.
- Calling unequal pieces fourths just because there are four of them.
- Writing four thirty as 4:3, unsure how half past looks on a digital clock.
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
- attribute
- A feature of a shape, like how many sides or corners it has.
- vertex
- A corner, where two sides of a shape meet.
- trapezoid
- A four-sided shape with one pair of sides that run the same way.
- equal shares
- Parts of a whole that are all the same size.
- half
- One of two equal parts of a whole.
- fourth
- One of four equal parts of a whole, also called a quarter.
- quarter
- Another name for a fourth, one of four equal parts.
- o'clock
- Exactly on the hour, when the minute hand points to 12.
- half past
- Thirty minutes after the hour, like 3:30.
Ready to build your child’s confidence with shapes and telling time?
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.
Join the club
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 Illustrative Mathematics Grade 1 Unit 7 cover?
Illustrative Mathematics Grade 1 Unit 7 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.