Bridges Competencies & Experiences

Bridges is designed to enable students to achieve competency in specific areas by year-end while at the same time providing experiences that expose them to areas that will be mastered in subsequent years. The Competencies and Experiences outlined below capture this integrated plan across grades K-5.  For details select View from the table below or download documents by Grades K-2 or Grades 3-5.

See also Scope and Sequence documents K-5 summary / NCTM strands and K-5 by month.

Subject Area Grades K-2 Grades 3-5
Number Sense and Numeration View View
Computation View View
Algebraic Thinking View View
Data Analysis and Probability View View
Measurement View View
Geometry View View
     
K-2 Geometry
Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade
COMPETENCIES
Sort 2- and 3-dimensional shapes by a variety of attributes. Identify, describe, and triangles, rectangles, squares, and circles. Identify, describe, and compare 2- and 3-dimensional shapes: square, triangle, rectangle, circle, trapezoid, hexagon, and rhombus, cube, sphere, rectangular prism, triangular prism, cylinder, and pyramid.
Recognize and name these basic shapes and possibly more: square, triangle, circle, rectangle, cube, and cone. Classify familiar plane and solid objects by common attributes (shape, size, roundness, number of corners, etc.). Classify 2-dimensional shapes by number of corners and sides.
Identify shapes by their association with well-known objects in the environment. “I know it’s a rectangle because it looks like a door.” “Triangles look like my roof.” Describe and arrange objects in space in terms of proximity and position (e.g., near, far, below, above, up, down, behind, etc.). Classify 3-dimensional objects by face shape, number of edges, faces, and vertices.
  Give and follow directions about location. Identify and construct simple designs that are symmetrical.
    Put shapes together and take them apart to form other shapes.
EXPERIENCES
Build 2- and 3-dimensional constructions with blocks, pattern blocks, and polydrons, etc. Create constructions with different materials and draw some of the simpler ones. Make constructions with many different materials. Draw some of the constructions and build from those drawings or the drawings of classmates.
Understand that shapes remain the same even when rotated. “This is still a triangle, even though it’s turned on its point.” Explore the concept of symmetry and begin to identify designs, pictures, and constructions that are symmetrical. Work with the idea that shapes retain their identity even when flipped and rotated.
See and work with many different triangles and quadrilaterals. Work with the idea that shapes retain their identity even when flipped and rotated. “No matter how I turn it or twist it, it’s still a rectangle.” Work with area and perimeter. Understand that perimeter means the distance around something, while area refers to the size of its surface.
  Sort all kinds of triangles and quadrilaterals. Explore irregular 5- and 6-sided shapes.