Florida, USA

The Mathematics Curriculum in Primary and Lower Secondary Grades

The goals and objectives for mathematics instruction have been defined by the Florida Standards since the 2014–2015 school year.

In Florida, mathematics course descriptions for Kindergarten to Grade 8 are organized by grade level. The standards for Grades 9 to 12 are organized differently from those for Kindergarten to Grade 8, and are written for particular courses under the following discipline headings: Algebra, Geometry, Discrete Mathematics, Trigonometry, Probability, Statistics, and Calculus. Middle school (Grades 6 to 8) courses also have an advanced track for those students pursuing high school credit for mathematics while in middle school.

Exhibit 1 presents the mathematics topics and skills generally taught by the end of the fourth grade in Florida. While the exhibit represents the content of the state standards generally, local curricula include detailed, grade level instructional benchmarks, approaches to learning, and instructional resource material.

Exhibit 1: Mathematics Curriculum Topics Taught Through Grade 4

Area of Mathematics	Topics Covered by the End of Fourth Grade
Numbers	Concepts of whole numbers, including place value and ordering Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing with whole numbers Concepts of fractions (fractions as parts of a whole or a collection or as a location on a number line, and comparing and ordering fractions) Adding and subtracting with fractions; concepts of decimals, including place value and ordering Number sentences (finding the missing number and modeling simple situations with number sentences)
Geometry	Comparing and drawing angles Elementary properties of common geometric shapes; reflections and rotations Relationships between two- and three-dimensional shapes Finding and estimating area, perimeter, and volume
Data and Chance	Reading data from tables, pictographs, bar graphs, or pie charts; drawing conclusions from data displays Displaying data using tables, pictographs, and bar graphs Number patterns (extending number patterns and finding missing terms)

Exhibit 2 presents the mathematics topics and skills generally taught by the end of the eighth grade in Florida. Using the same approach as for the fourth grade, this exhibit presents the general content in the state standards while local curricula include detailed, grade level instructional benchmarks, approaches to learning, and instructional resource material.

Exhibit 2: Mathematics Curriculum Topics Taught Through Grade 8

Area of Mathematics	Topics Covered by the End of Eighth Grade
Numbers	Computing, estimating, or approximating with whole numbers; concepts of fractions and computing with fractions Concepts of decimals and computing with decimals Representing, comparing, ordering, and computing with integers Problem solving involving percentages and proportions
Algebra	Numeric, algebraic, and geometric patterns or sequences (extension, missing terms, and generalization of patterns) Simplifying and evaluating algebraic expressions; simple linear equations and inequalities; simultaneous equations in two variables Representation of functions as ordered pairs, tables, graphs, words, or equations
Geometry	Geometric properties of angles and geometric shapes (triangles, quadrilaterals, and other common polygons) Congruent figures and similar triangles Relationship between three-dimensional shapes and their two-dimensional representations Using appropriate measurement formulas for perimeter, circumference, area, surface area, and volume Points on the Cartesian plane Translation, reflection, and rotation
Data and Chance	Reading and displaying data using tables, pictographs, bar graphs, pie charts, and line graphs Interpreting data sets (e.g., drawing conclusions, making predictions, and estimating values between and beyond given data points) Judging, predicting, and determining chances of possible outcomes