Slovakia Primary 4 Mathematics Curriculum

This information is based on the Štátny vzdelávací program ISCED 1 - Matematika (2009).

Overall Goals:

The curriculum aims to equip students with the mathematical knowledge and skills necessary for future learning and daily life, preparing them for independent knowledge acquisition through age-appropriate learning methods. It emphasizes developing student abilities through active participation and focuses on the connection between mathematics and real-world situations.

Content Areas:

The curriculum is divided into five thematic areas:

1. Numbers, Variables, and Arithmetic Operations with Numbers: This area focuses on understanding natural numbers up to 10,000, performing arithmetic operations (including with calculators), rounding, estimation, and problem-solving. 2. Sequences, Relations, Functions, Tables, and Diagrams: Students explore quantitative and spatial relationships, represent them in tables, graphs, and diagrams, and draw conclusions. 3. Geometry and Measurement: This area covers constructing geometric shapes, drawing plane figures, understanding their properties, measuring length, and solving metric problems. 4. Combinatorics, Probability, and Statistics: Introduced through problem-solving, students manipulate objects, create groups, observe event frequency, and record data. 5. Logic, Reasoning, and Proof: Students assess the truth value of mathematical and real-life statements through problem-solving.

Specific Learning Objectives for Primary 4:

• Multiplication and Division in the Multiplication Table Range:
• Master multiplication and division facts up to 100.
• Understand the relationship between multiplication and division.
• Solve word problems involving multiplication and division.
• Use a calculator for multiplication and division.
• Understand the commutative property of multiplication.
• Solve word problems involving direct proportionality.
• Solve indirectly formulated word problems.
• Addition and Subtraction within 10,000:
• Perform written and mental addition and subtraction up to 10,000.
• Use a calculator for addition and subtraction.
• Understand the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction.
• Calculate with rounded numbers.
• Check the correctness of solutions.
• Solve various types of word problems, including those with non-empty intersections.
• Solve simple inequalities.
• Geometry and Measurement:
• Draw squares and rectangles on grid paper, identifying vertices, sides, and adjacent sides.
• Calculate the perimeter of squares and rectangles.
• Draw triangles, given side lengths, and identify vertices and sides.
• Measure the lengths of triangle sides with accuracy to centimeters and millimeters.
• Calculate the perimeter of a triangle.
• Draw circles with a given center and radius.
• Understand the properties of circles.
• Convert between different units of length (mm, cm, dm, m, km).
• Construct solids from cubes based on a model or picture.
• Draw plans for cube constructions.
• Solving Applied Problems and Problems Developing Specific Mathematical Thinking:
• Understand true and false statements.
• Create bar graphs from collected data.
• Calculate the arithmetic mean for small data sets.
• Solve indirectly formulated problems.
• Solve word problems with combinatorial themes.

Performance Standards:

The curriculum also outlines specific performance standards for each thematic area, detailing what students should be able to do at the end of Primary 4. These standards cover skills such as:

• Using mathematical terminology correctly.
• Performing calculations mentally and in writing.
• Solving word problems of varying complexity.
• Representing and interpreting data in tables, graphs, and diagrams.
• Recognizing and constructing geometric shapes.
• Measuring and converting between units of measurement.
• Applying logical reasoning and problem-solving skills.