The Mastery Series • Nursery • Mathematics
Nursery Mathematics
Beginning numeracy through numbers, colors, counting, shapes, sorting and hands-on mathematical exploration.
Building Early Mathematical Foundations
Nursery Mathematics is the foundation-level Mathematics program in the Mastery Series from Liberty Education. It introduces young children to early mathematical ideas through concrete experiences, teacher-guided exploration, movement, language, visual activities and structured Student Book practice.
Children develop familiarity with numbers and quantities while learning to recognize and describe colors and shapes. Activities encourage children to count, identify, match, sort, trace, draw, color, sequence and talk about mathematical ideas in meaningful contexts.
The program combines a structured Student Book with a detailed Teacher Guide, allowing mathematical concepts to be experienced through active learning before being reinforced and applied on the page.
Nursery Mathematics at a Glance
| Series | Mastery Series Early Childhood Curriculum |
|---|---|
| Level | Nursery |
| Subject | Mathematics |
| Curriculum Focus | Beginning Numeracy |
| Core Number Range | Numbers 1–10 |
| Key Learning Areas | Numbers, quantities, counting, colors, shapes, sorting, matching, sequencing and simple patterns |
| Curriculum Components | Teacher Guide and Student Book |
| Publisher | Liberty Education |
What Children Learn
Nursery Mathematics develops beginning mathematical understanding through connected experiences with numbers, quantities, colors, shapes and relationships.
Numbers 1–10
Children become familiar with numbers from 1 through 10. They learn to recognize numerals, say number names, connect numerals with quantities and encounter written number words.
Counting & Quantity
Children count pictures, classroom objects and manipulatives and identify groups containing a specified number of objects. These experiences help connect spoken numbers and written numerals with actual quantities.
Numeral Formation
Guided tracing and writing activities introduce the movements used to form numerals while supporting the fine-motor control needed for early mathematical recording.
Number Words
Children encounter number words alongside numerals and quantities, helping them experience several representations of the same number.
Colors
Children identify, name and differentiate colors through familiar objects, pictures, classroom exploration, art and Student Book activities.
Colors explored across the program include red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, brown, black and white.
Shapes
Children recognize, trace, draw, color and identify familiar shapes in pictures and everyday contexts.
Shapes explored include circle, square, triangle, diamond, rectangle, oval, star and heart.
Sorting, Matching & Classification
Children learn to notice similarities and differences and to match or group objects and representations according to mathematical attributes such as number, quantity, color and shape.
Sequencing & Simple Patterns
Later activities bring previously learned concepts together through number sequences and simple visual patterns. Children follow numbers in order and identify or complete repeating shape patterns.
How Number Learning Develops
Number learning in Nursery Mathematics goes beyond memorizing the appearance of a numeral. Children repeatedly encounter a number in different forms and contexts.
Hear → Recognize → Count → Match → Trace → Write → Apply → Review
A number lesson may ask children to say the number name, recognize the numeral, count a corresponding quantity, identify which group contains the target number of objects, trace the numeral and apply the number through pictures, movement or classroom objects.
This helps children build connections between number names, numerals and quantities rather than learning each representation in isolation.
Inside the Student Book
The Nursery Mathematics Student Book provides structured visual activities that reinforce concepts introduced through teacher-guided learning.
Children encounter activities such as:
- recognizing numerals from 1–10;
- counting pictures and objects;
- identifying a requested quantity;
- matching numbers with quantities;
- working with number words;
- tracing and writing numerals;
- identifying and applying colors;
- tracing, drawing and recognizing shapes;
- matching identical numbers;
- following the number sequence from 1–10;
- completing simple shape patterns;
- sorting and matching;
- following visual paths and mazes; and
- reviewing previously learned concepts through games and integrated activities.
The Student Book therefore works as the practice and application component of a broader instructional program rather than as a stand-alone collection of worksheets.
Teacher-Guided Learning
The Nursery Mathematics Teacher Guide expands Student Book concepts into active classroom learning.
Lessons may use stories, rhymes, songs, movement, classroom objects, demonstrations, manipulatives and discussion to introduce a concept before children apply what they have learned in the Student Book.
Number activities can include counting real objects, walking along large numerals, jumping along a number line, performing actions a specified number of times, matching quantities with numeral cards and representing numbers through movement or sound.
Color and shape concepts can be extended through classroom searches, sorting, art, observation, construction, sensory exploration and discussion.
How Children Learn
Nursery Mathematics uses an active, multisensory approach appropriate to early childhood learning.
Depending on the lesson, children may learn through:
- teacher modeling and guided discussion;
- stories and rhymes;
- songs and action activities;
- counting real objects and manipulatives;
- number, picture and shape cards;
- movement and large-scale floor activities;
- art and craft experiences;
- music and rhythm;
- sensory exploration;
- games and classroom searches;
- STEAM-related activities;
- learning centers; and
- Student Book practice.
Encountering concepts in several different ways helps children connect mathematical vocabulary and symbols with concrete experiences.
Learning Centers & Classroom Exploration
The Teacher Guide includes suggested learning-center experiences that allow children to revisit mathematical concepts through independent and teacher-supported activities.
Depending on the lesson, these can include:
- Mathematics: counting, numeral recognition, matching and grouping
- Art: coloring, painting, collage and number or shape activities
- Literacy & Language: mathematical vocabulary and number words
- Movement: large numerals, number lines, hopping, jumping and action games
- Fine Motor: tracing, drawing, writing, cutting, pasting and manipulation
- STEAM & Science: observation, investigation, shapes, colors and real-world connections
- Sensory Exploration: hands-on experiences involving different materials and senses
- Manipulatives: sorting, grouping, matching and counting concrete objects
Mathematics & Whole-Child Development
Mathematics is the central curriculum focus, while the activities also engage broader areas of early childhood development.
Cognitive Development
Recognition, counting, matching, classification, sequencing, visual discrimination, patterns and early problem solving.
Language Development
Number words, color and shape vocabulary, listening, discussion and using mathematical language in context.
Fine-Motor Development
Tracing, numeral formation, drawing, coloring, cutting, pasting and manipulating classroom materials.
Gross-Motor Development
Walking along numerals, jumping on number lines, movement games and large-scale number and shape activities.
Social & Emotional Development
Participating in group activities, taking turns, following directions and learning alongside classmates.
STEAM Connections
Exploring shapes, quantities, colors, objects, patterns and relationships through observation and hands-on experiences.
Nursery Mathematics Curriculum Sequence
The program interweaves numbers, colors, shapes and review activities so children encounter mathematical ideas repeatedly in different contexts.
| Learning Area | Development |
|---|---|
| Numbers 1–10 | Numeral recognition, number names, quantities, number words, counting and beginning numeral formation |
| Colors | Recognition, naming, differentiation, matching and application |
| Shapes | Recognition, naming, tracing, drawing and identification |
| Sorting & Matching | Recognizing similarities and differences and connecting related mathematical representations |
| Number Sequence | Following numbers from 1–10 in order |
| Simple Patterns | Recognizing and completing visual shape patterns |
| Review & Application | Bringing numbers, quantities, colors and shapes together through matching, games and integrated activities |
Developmental Progression
Nursery Mathematics establishes the foundation of the Mastery Series Mathematics pathway.
Experience → Explore → Recognize → Name → Match → Count → Trace → Sequence → Apply
Children begin with concrete, visual and physical experiences and progressively connect those experiences with mathematical vocabulary, numerals, quantities, colors and shapes.
See how these foundations develop through the next two levels in the Mastery Series Mathematics Curriculum Progression .
From Nursery to Preschool Mathematics
Nursery Mathematics provides the foundation for the next stage of the Mastery Series Mathematics pathway.
Familiarity with numerals, quantities, counting, colors, shapes, matching, sorting and sequence gives children a base from which mathematical understanding can continue to develop at Preschool level.
Scope & Sequence
Explore how Nursery Mathematics fits within the complete developmental sequence of Mathematics and Phonics learning across Nursery, Preschool and Kindergarten.
Nursery Mathematics FAQ
What does Nursery Mathematics teach?
Nursery Mathematics introduces beginning numeracy through numbers 1–10, counting, quantities, number words, numeral formation, colors, shapes, sorting, matching, sequencing and simple patterns.
What number range is taught?
The core number sequence develops children's familiarity with numbers 1 through 10. Children recognize numerals, count quantities, encounter number words and practice numeral formation.
Does Nursery Mathematics teach shapes?
Yes. Children work with familiar shapes including circles, squares, triangles, diamonds, rectangles, ovals, stars and hearts through recognition, tracing, coloring, drawing and matching activities.
Does Nursery Mathematics teach colors?
Yes. Children identify, name, differentiate and use colors including red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, brown, black and white.
Does Nursery Mathematics include patterns?
Yes. Later Student Book activities introduce simple visual patterns in which children identify the sequence and draw or color the shape that comes next.
Is Nursery Mathematics only a workbook?
No. The Student Book is supported by a Teacher Guide containing teacher-led experiences including stories, songs, movement, manipulatives, games, art, sensory exploration, discussion, STEAM connections and learning centers.
How do the Teacher Guide and Student Book work together?
The Teacher Guide supports teachers in introducing and exploring mathematical concepts through active experiences. The Student Book provides structured opportunities for children to recognize, count, match, trace, draw, color, sequence and apply what they are learning.
What comes after Nursery Mathematics?
Nursery Mathematics is followed by Preschool Mathematics , where children continue developing their mathematical understanding through increasingly advanced representation, sequencing, classification and application.