Circle 2 Syllabus

Circle 2 is an engaging, foundational math course designed to introduce students to multiplication, division, and fractions while strengthening their skills in addition and subtraction with numbers up to 1000. Aligned with the Common Core State Standards for Grades 2 and 3, this course is ideal for students ages 5 to 8 who can already add and subtract two-digit numbers, skip count by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s, and solve simple one-step equations. With a focus on building problem-solving skills, students will explore various strategies through interactive learning, logic puzzles, and friendly competition-style challenges to keep young minds active and inspired.

Concepts, skills, and learning tools students see in this course include, but are not limited to:

• Count, compare, add and subtract numbers up to 100,000,000 using different strategies
• Multiply and divide by single digit numbers
• Determine the perimeter and area of rectangles and rectilinear shapes
• Problem-solving skills, logic puzzles, algebraic and geometric thinking, competition-style problems

Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

• Number Operations and Place Value: Master place value up to 1,000s, addition and subtraction with regrouping, and introductory multiplication and division with one- and two-digit numbers.
• Mental Math and Problem-Solving: Develop mental calculation strategies and solve equations using balance scales, guess and check, and inverse operations.
• Understanding Fractions and Parts of Wholes: Learn about wholes versus parts through simple tuples and fractions for a solid foundation in fractions.
• Graphs, Coordinates, and Measurement: Create and interpret graphs, work with coordinates, and explore basic measurements in length, weight, money, time, and capacity.

Students registering for this course should be comfortable with the following Math:

• Count, compare, add and subtract numbers up to 100,000,000 using different strategies
• Multiply and divide by single digit numbers
• Determine the perimeter and area of rectangles and rectilinear shapes
• Problem-solving skills, logic puzzles, algebraic and geometric thinking, competition-style problems

• Place Value and Basic Operations (4 weeks): Understand place value up to hundreds, counting with number lines and base 10 blocks, and practice addition and subtraction strategies.
• Mental Math and Grouping (5 weeks): Develop mental math techniques for addition and subtraction, practice regrouping, and learn skip counting, introductory multiplication, and division.
• Fractions and Parts vs Wholes (6 weeks): Explore fractions through visual models, learn about natural numbers, understand parts vs wholes, and work with simple unit fractions.
• Equations and Statistics (5 weeks): Solve equations using balance scales, practice modeling equations, use Venn diagrams, and create and interpret bar graphs and coordinates.
• Measurement and Geometry (9 weeks): Measure length, weight, money, and time; learn basic 2D and 3D geometry concepts, including shapes, symmetry, and fractional areas.