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P3 Numeracy and mathematics (First level): What to Teach (Scotland)

Your Teacher Information Pack for P3 Numeracy and mathematics (First level) in Scotland: the curriculum structure, our short summaries with links to the official wording, and key dates.

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Country
Scotland
Stage
P3
Level
First level
Ages
6–7
Source
Curriculum for Excellence – experiences and outcomes (broad general education)
Last checked
2026-10-20

Usually P2, P3, P4 (a guide, not a fixed year group). Roughly US Grades 1–3 (approximate).

Curriculum for Excellence levels are a guide, not year groups: learners move through levels at their own pace.

Plan the whole year: open this course in the Year Planner – every lesson dated around your term dates, with a coverage check. Free.

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What to teach

Below are the experiences and outcomes with their official codes, in our own short summaries. Each code links to the official document.

Number, money and measure: Estimation and rounding

  • MNU 1-01a Share estimation methods, calculate the answer, then check against the estimate.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Number and number processes

  • MNU 1-02a Investigate whole-number construction, zero's importance, and place value.
  • MNU 1-03a Solve problems using four operations with mental and written strategies.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Fractions, decimal fractions and percentages

  • MNU 1-07a Show understanding of equal sharing, fraction notation and number line positions.
  • MNU 1-07b Find a fraction of an amount by dividing groups equally.
  • MTH 1-07c Show equivalent simple fractions using practical and pictorial activities.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Money

  • MNU 1-09a Pay for items and work out the correct change.
  • MNU 1-09b Investigate coin and note combinations for paying and giving change.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Time

  • MNU 1-10a Tell 12-hour time, link to 24-hour notation, and organise the daily routine.
  • MNU 1-10b Use a calendar to plan key personal and class events.
  • MNU 1-10c Estimate task durations by timing activities with various timers.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Measurement

  • MNU 1-11a Estimate length, weight or capacity using everyday guides, then measure.
  • MNU 1-11b Estimate area by counting squares or using other methods.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Mathematics – its impact on the world, past, present and future

  • MTH 1-12a Discuss numbers' importance and historical number-recording systems.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Patterns and relationships

  • MTH 1-13a Continue and devise repeating patterns or designs using various media.
  • MTH 1-13b Recognise and continue simple number sequences, explaining the rule.

Official wording

Number, money and measure: Expressions and equations

  • MTH 1-15a Compare and show number relationships using equals and inequality symbols.
  • MTH 1-15b Find values of symbols replacing numbers in statements using number facts.

Official wording

Shape, position and movement: Properties of 2D shapes and 3D objects

  • MTH 1-16a Identify, name and describe features of simple 3D objects and 2D shapes.
  • MTH 1-16b Explore how shapes fit together to create tiling patterns.

Official wording

Shape, position and movement: Angle, symmetry and transformation

  • MTH 1-17a Describe, follow and record routes using signs, words and turning angles.
  • MTH 1-18a Locate and describe positions using everyday grid reference systems.
  • MTH 1-19a Explore symmetry in surroundings; create and recognise symmetrical designs.

Official wording

Information handling: Data and analysis

  • MNU 1-20a Explore data presentations and ask and answer questions about them.
  • MNU 1-20b Collect information and sort it logically using own and others' criteria.
  • MTH 1-21a Display data simply and accurately using tables, charts and diagrams.

Official wording

Information handling: Ideas of chance and uncertainty

  • MNU 1-22a Describe event likelihood using vocabulary and personal experience.

Official wording

Benchmarks (summary)

Guidance Benchmarks and guidance (our summaries)

  • Estimation and rounding: Estimating with doubling and rounding; checking by rounding to tens and hundreds (2 benchmark statements in the official document). (2 official benchmark bullets)
  • Number and number processes: Place value to 1000, multiplication and division facts, and two-step problems (14 benchmark statements in the official document). (14 official benchmark bullets)
  • Fractions, decimal fractions and percentages: Unit fractions, notation, ordering and equivalence on a number line (7 benchmark statements in the official document). (7 official benchmark bullets)
  • Money: Using and recording notes and coins, making change, and awareness of cards (5 benchmark statements in the official document). (5 official benchmark bullets)
  • Time: Telling 12-hour time, using calendars and timetables, and selecting timers (7 benchmark statements in the official document). (7 official benchmark bullets)
  • Measurement: Estimating and measuring with standard units, converting units, and area by grids (9 benchmark statements in the official document). (9 official benchmark bullets)
  • Mathematics – its impact on the world: Exploring the importance of numbers and historical number systems (2 benchmark statements in the official document). (2 official benchmark bullets)
  • Patterns and relationships: Counting in steps, describing number and repeating patterns, and stating rules (4 benchmark statements in the official document). (4 official benchmark bullets)
  • Expressions and equations: Using equals and inequality symbols; solving simple missing-number problems (2 benchmark statements in the official document). (2 official benchmark bullets)
  • Properties of 2D shapes and 3D objects: Naming and describing shape properties; 2D shapes in 3D objects and tiling (4 benchmark statements in the official document). (4 official benchmark bullets)
  • Angle, symmetry and transformation: Directions and turns, right angles, compass points, grid references and symmetry (9 benchmark statements in the official document). (9 official benchmark bullets)
  • Data and analysis: Questioning, collecting, sorting and displaying data with labelled charts (4 benchmark statements in the official document). (4 official benchmark bullets)
  • Ideas of chance and uncertainty: Using likelihood vocabulary and everyday data to predict events (2 benchmark statements in the official document). (2 official benchmark bullets)

Official wording

Assessments and key dates

Qualifications Scotland exams 2027: Mon, 26 April 2027 to Thu, 3 June 2027 (timetable). There are no national tests of curriculum levels; teachers judge progress using the Benchmarks.

Trusted free resources

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More packs

Numeracy and mathematics – Early level · Numeracy and mathematics – First level · Numeracy and mathematics – Second level · Numeracy and mathematics – Third level · Numeracy and mathematics – Fourth level · P1 Numeracy and mathematics · P2 Numeracy and mathematics · P4 Numeracy and mathematics · All Scotland packs · Find another TIP

Codes and structure from Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes and Benchmarks, Education Scotland (Crown copyright). Summaries are Classfern's own words – always read the official wording via the link.

No official wording is reproduced: codes and structure are facts, and the short descriptions are our own summaries. Always read the official wording via the links. Checked on 2026-10-20.

Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by Education Scotland, Qualifications Scotland (formerly SQA) or the Scottish Government.