Understanding the Australian Curriculum - Mathematics for Parents
Confused about what your child is learning in maths? This guide breaks down the Australian Curriculum for Mathematics, explaining what students learn at each year level and how you can support them at home.
The Australian Curriculum for Mathematics has been designed to ensure all students develop the mathematical skills and understanding they need for life and work. But what exactly should your child be learning at each stage? This guide helps parents understand the curriculum structure and expectations.
The Three Content Strands
The Australian Curriculum organises mathematics into three main strands:
1. Number and Algebra
- Number sense and place value
- Operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
- Fractions, decimals, and percentages
- Money and financial mathematics
- Patterns and algebra
- Linear and non-linear relationships
2. Measurement and Geometry
- Using units of measurement (length, area, volume, capacity, mass, time)
- Shape and geometric reasoning
- Location and transformation
- Properties of shapes
- Angle and geometric relationships
3. Statistics and Probability
- Collecting and representing data
- Interpreting data and graphs
- Chance and probability
- Statistical investigations
All three strands are taught together at each year level, building progressively.
What Students Learn by Year Level
Foundation Year (Prep/Kindy, Age 5-6)
Number: Counting to 20, recognizing numbers, simple addition and subtraction
Measurement & Geometry: Comparing lengths and capacities, naming shapes, understanding positional language
Statistics: Collecting and sorting data, answering simple questions
At home: Count everyday objects, play board games, sort toys by characteristics, talk about shapes in the environment
Year 1 (Age 6-7)
Number: Counting to 100, place value, addition and subtraction to 20, halves and quarters
Measurement & Geometry: Measuring length, telling time (hours/half-hours), basic 2D and 3D shapes
Statistics: Creating simple data displays, yes/no questions
At home: Practice counting in tens, measure ingredients while cooking, read analog clocks, collect and graph family data (favorite colors, etc.)
Year 2 (Age 7-8)
Number: Numbers to 1,000, place value, all operations to 20, multiplication (2s, 5s, 10s), basic fractions
Measurement & Geometry: Measuring with standard units, telling time to five minutes, identify shapes
Statistics: Collecting categorical data, simple graphs
At home: Play skip-counting games, use money in shopping, measure rooms and furniture, create surveys
Year 3 (Age 8-9)
Number: Numbers to 10,000, mental strategies, recall multiplication facts, unit fractions
Measurement & Geometry: Measuring perimeter and area, telling time to the minute, angles
Statistics: Data collection methods, column and bar graphs, chance experiments
At home: Practice times tables through games, calculate areas of rooms, discuss probability (“What’s more likely…?”)
Year 4 (Age 9-10)
Number: Numbers beyond 10,000, mental computation, all multiplication and division facts, equivalent fractions
Measurement & Geometry: Decimal measurement, converting units, symmetry, angles
Statistics: Data collection and interpretation, chance experiments
At home: Work with decimals in money contexts, convert recipe measurements, explore symmetry in nature and art
Year 5 (Age 10-11)
Number: Large numbers, efficient strategies, fractions and decimals, percentages introduced
Measurement & Geometry: Volume and capacity, 12/24-hour time, properties of shapes
Statistics: Creating and interpreting various graphs, listing outcomes of chance events
At home: Calculate percentages (discounts, GST), measure and calculate volumes, use maps
Year 6 (Age 11-12)
Number: All operations with whole numbers and decimals, fraction operations, ratios, simple algebra
Measurement & Geometry: Problem-solving with measurement, coordinates, transformations
Statistics: Interpreting secondary data, calculating probabilities
At home: Cooking with ratio adjustments, plan trips using maps and coordinates, analyse sports statistics
Years 7-10 (Secondary)
Concepts become more advanced: algebra, equations, advanced geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and probability. The foundation from primary years is crucial for success at this level.
Achievement Standards
Each year level has achievement standards describing what students should typically achieve:
- Above standard: Working beyond expected level
- At standard: Meeting expected level
- Below standard: Working toward expected level
These are guides, not rigid requirements. Children develop at different rates.
Proficiency Strands
Besides content, the curriculum emphasizes four proficiencies:
Understanding: Knowing why, not just how Fluency: Efficiency and accuracy with skills Problem Solving: Applying maths to new situations Reasoning: Explaining thinking and justifying solutions
Strong teaching develops all four, not just fluency (speed and accuracy).
Common Parent Questions
Q: My child is learning differently than I did. Is this wrong? A: No. Teaching methods evolve based on research. Focus on understanding, not just memorizing procedures.
Q: Why don’t they just memorize times tables anymore? A: They do! But understanding the patterns and relationships makes memorization easier and longer-lasting.
Q: What if my child isn’t meeting the year level standard? A: Standards are guides. Speak with the teacher about specific support. Every child progresses differently.
Q: Should I teach ahead to help my child? A: Better to deepen understanding of current concepts than race ahead superficially.
Q: How much homework is appropriate? A: Generally: 10 minutes per year level (Year 1 = 10 min, Year 6 = 60 min). Quality over quantity.
How to Support Learning at Home
Don’t:
- Teach methods that contradict school teaching
- Create stress or anxiety about meeting standards
- Compare your child to others
- Say “I was bad at maths” (suggests it’s genetic/fixed)
Do:
- Maintain positive attitude toward maths
- Connect maths to everyday activities
- Ask “How did you figure that out?”
- Celebrate effort and improvement
- Communicate with teachers about concerns
- Use resources aligned with Australian Curriculum (like TopTierMaths!)
Finding Support
If your child needs extra help:
- School: Ask teacher about support programs, extension activities
- Online: Many quality Australian Curriculum-aligned resources exist
- Tutoring: Ensure tutors understand and follow current curriculum
- At home: Practice through games, cooking, shopping, building
The Big Picture
The Australian Curriculum aims to develop mathematically literate citizens who can:
- Use maths confidently in daily life
- Solve problems creatively
- Think logically and critically
- Continue learning independently
It’s not about creating mathematicians (though some will be!). It’s about ensuring all Australians have the mathematical skills for life and work in the 21st century.
Understanding what your child is learning helps you support them effectively. When school and home work together, children thrive mathematically.