Learning Map

Hands-On Problem Solving

Select and use familiar tools (concrete objects, fingers, ten frames) to help solve a mathematical problem

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

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Try this together

When your child is working out a maths problem, do they reach for helpful tools — like using their fingers, counters, or a number line — to support their thinking?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
Counting objects to 20ages 5–6Counting objects requires choosing appropriate tools (cubes, ten frames)
Hands-On Problem Solvingthis skill · ages 5–6
Unlocks
Numbers on a number lineages 6–7Age 6-7 strategic tool selection builds on age 5-6 familiarity with basic tools

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 3 ACARA · 2 NSW · 3 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9M1N06medium confidenceYear 1 · Number

use mathematical modelling to solve practical problems involving equal sharing and grouping; represent the situations with diagrams, physical and virtual materials, and use calculation strategies to solve the problem

AC9M1N05medium confidenceYear 1 · Number

use mathematical modelling to solve practical problems involving additive situations, including simple money transactions; represent the situations with diagrams, physical and virtual materials, and use calculation strategies to solve the problem

AC9M2N04medium confidenceYear 2 · Number

add and subtract one- and two-digit numbers, representing problems using number sentences and solve using part-part-whole reasoning and a variety of calculation strategies

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

MAO-WM-01medium confidenceMathematics K-10 · Early Stage 1, Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3
MA1-CSQ-01low confidenceMathematics K-10 · Stage 1

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2M1A02medium confidenceMathematics · Level 1 · Algebra strand
VC2M2N04low confidenceMathematics · Level 2 · Number strand
VC2MFN05low confidenceMathematics · Foundation · Number strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

All Mathematical Thinking skills →