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Kindergarten Math (California Common Core)

Your Teacher Information Pack for Kindergarten Math (California Common Core): the standards, California's own additions, the state tests and the official links.

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State
California
Grade
Kindergarten
Standards
California Common Core State Standards: Mathematics
California additions
0
Last checked
2026-10-20

California has no math additions in this grade (2013 edition) – the CCSS grade standards apply as they are.

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The Common Core standards for this grade

Counting & Cardinality (CC) 7 standards

  • Know number names and the count sequence.
    • K.CC.A.1 Count to 100 by ones and by tens.
    • K.CC.A.2 Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1).
    • K.CC.A.3 Write numbers from 0 to 20. Represent a number of objects with a written numeral 0-20 (with 0 representing a count of no objects).
  • Count to tell the number of objects.
    • K.CC.B.4 Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.
      • K.CC.B.4.a When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order, pairing each object with one and only one number name and each number name with one and only one object.
      • K.CC.B.4.b Understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted. The number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they were counted.
      • K.CC.B.4.c Understand that each successive number name refers to a quantity that is one larger.
    • K.CC.B.5 Count to answer "how many?" questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1-20, count out that many objects.
  • Compare numbers.
    • K.CC.C.6 Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.1Note: Include groups with up to ten objects.
    • K.CC.C.7 Compare two numbers between 1 and 10 presented as written numerals.

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Teacher notes: Counting & Cardinality

Kindergartners learn the counting sequence to 100 by ones and tens, write numerals 0–20, and connect counting to answering "how many?" questions. They compare groups of objects and compare written numbers from 1 to 10.

Operations & Algebraic Thinking (OA) 5 standards

  • Understand addition as putting together and adding to, and understand subtraction as taking apart and taking from.
    • K.OA.A.1 Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings1, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.
    • K.OA.A.2 Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem.
    • K.OA.A.3 Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3 and 5 = 4 + 1).
    • K.OA.A.4 For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10 when added to the given number, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record the answer with a drawing or equation.
    • K.OA.A.5 Fluently add and subtract within 5.

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Teacher notes: Operations & Algebraic Thinking

Kindergartners understand addition as putting together or adding to, and subtraction as taking apart or taking from. They solve word problems within 10, break numbers up to 10 into pairs in different ways, find the partner that makes 10, and become fluent adding and subtracting within 5.

Number & Operations in Base Ten (NBT) 1 standard

  • Work with numbers 11-19 to gain foundations for place value.
    • K.NBT.A.1 Compose and decompose numbers from 11 to 19 into ten ones and some further ones, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each composition or decomposition by a drawing or equation (such as 18 = 10 + 8); understand that these numbers are composed of ten ones and one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or nine ones.

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Teacher notes: Number & Operations in Base Ten

Kindergartners work with the numbers 11 to 19 to lay the foundations for place value. They show and record each teen number as ten ones and some more ones, using objects, drawings or equations such as 18 = 10 + 8.

Measurement & Data (MD) 3 standards

  • Describe and compare measurable attributes.
    • K.MD.A.1 Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.
    • K.MD.A.2 Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has "more of"/"less of" the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.
  • Classify objects and count the number of objects in each category.
    • K.MD.B.3 Classify objects into given categories; count the numbers of objects in each category and sort the categories by count.1

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Teacher notes: Measurement & Data

Kindergartners describe things that can be measured, such as length and weight, and compare two objects directly to say which has more or less of an attribute. They sort objects into categories, count each category and order the categories by count.

Geometry (G) 6 standards

  • Identify and describe shapes.
    • K.G.A.1 Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.
    • K.G.A.2 Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size.
    • K.G.A.3 Identify shapes as two-dimensional (lying in a plane, "flat") or three-dimensional ("solid").
  • Analyze, compare, create, and compose shapes.
    • K.G.B.4 Analyze and compare two- and three-dimensional shapes, in different sizes and orientations, using informal language to describe their similarities, differences, parts (e.g., number of sides and vertices/"corners") and other attributes (e.g., having sides of equal length).
    • K.G.B.5 Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components (e.g., sticks and clay balls) and drawing shapes.
    • K.G.B.6 Compose simple shapes to form larger shapes. For example, "Can you join these two triangles with full sides touching to make a rectangle?"

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Teacher notes: Geometry

Kindergartners name two- and three-dimensional shapes in any size or orientation and describe where objects are using words like above, below, beside and next to. They compare shapes, build them from parts and join simple shapes to make larger ones.

Tests and key dates

California tests ELA and math in grades 3–8 and 11 (CAASPP). Check the CDE for dates.

More packs

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Standards codes from the California Department of Education. Summaries are Classfern's own words, not official text – see the CDE document for the exact wording.

California additions and ELD standards are shown as codes with our own summaries only: the California Department of Education's permission is needed to reproduce its text.

Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the California Department of Education.

© Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.

The Common Core State Standards are owned and developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), and are shown here under the Common Core State Standards Public License. Examples from the official site are not included. Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by NGA Center or CCSSO. Each standard links to its official page.