Illinois 1st Grade Math: What Students Learn
Illinois 1st grade math lays the foundation for all future number work. Students learn to add and subtract within 20, understand place value with tens and ones, compare two-digit numbers, and begin working with measurement, time, and geometry. Every topic on this page aligns to the Illinois Learning Standards for Math.
Addition and Subtraction
A large portion of 1st grade math focuses on building fluency with addition and subtraction. Students solve word problems within 20, add three whole numbers, and use strategies like counting on and making ten. They also learn to understand subtraction as finding an unknown addend, which connects addition and subtraction as related operations.
- Addition and subtraction within 20
- Word problems with three whole numbers
- Properties of operations (commutative, associative)
- Fluency within 10
- Unknown addend problems
Place Value and Number Sense
Students learn that two-digit numbers are made up of tens and ones. They count to 120 starting from any number, compare two-digit numbers using >, =, and < symbols, and practice adding within 100. Mental math strategies — like finding 10 more or 10 less — are introduced here.
- Counting to 120
- Tens and ones place value
- Comparing two-digit numbers
- Adding a two-digit number and a one-digit number
- Subtracting multiples of 10
Measurement and Data
First graders order objects by length and express length in whole number units. They tell and write time in hours and half-hours using both analog and digital clocks. Students also organize and interpret data sorted into up to three categories.
Geometry
Students identify defining attributes of shapes, compose two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes, and partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares — an early introduction to fractions.
How StudyPug Helps Illinois 1st Graders
StudyPug has video lessons and practice problems for every topic listed on this page. Each lesson is short and focused — typically 5 to 15 minutes — so students can watch, pause, and replay as needed. Practice problems let students check their understanding right away. Whether your child needs homework help or wants to get ahead, StudyPug covers every Illinois Learning Standards for Math topic for 1st grade.