What the Grade 1 Mathematics schemes of work cover
The Grade 1 Mathematics schemes of work turn the KICD curriculum design into a week-by-week teaching plan for the whole year – Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3. Grade 1 is the start of formal number learning, and the work is practical and play-based: children count real objects, draw number lines on the ground, sort and compare, and build the number sense that everything later depends on.
The schemes take the strands and sub-strands from the design and lay them out lesson by lesson, with the specific learning outcomes, suggested learning experiences, key inquiry questions, learning resources and assessment for each week. They come in editable Word format, so you can adjust the weeks, dates and activities to fit your school's calendar and your class, and they are kept in line with the current school calendar and the latest KICD curriculum design.
The three strands of Grade 1 Mathematics
Grade 1 Mathematics is organised into three strands, covered across a suggested 150 lessons in the year:
- Numbers – Pre-Number Activities, Whole Numbers, Addition, and Subtraction. This is the largest strand, because secure number sense underpins everything else. Pre-number work (matching, sorting, comparing, ordering) comes first, then whole numbers, then early addition and subtraction.
- Measurements – Length, Mass, Capacity, Time, and Money. Learners measure and compare using everyday objects before any formal units, and handle Kenyan coins and notes through play like a classroom shop.
- Geometry – Lines and Shapes. Learners draw straight and curved lines and identify and make simple shapes (rectangles, circles, triangles, ovals, squares).
The Numbers strand carries the most lessons and anchors the early terms; Measurements and Geometry build on that foundation later in the year.
What learners should be able to do
The design sets out the subject general learning outcomes for primary Mathematics. In Grade 1, the learner is beginning the journey toward being able to: demonstrate mastery of number concepts in day-to-day life; apply measurement skills in a variety of contexts; apply properties of shapes and spatial relationships in real life; and develop confidence, interest and enjoyment in Mathematics. The design describes Mathematics as the foundation of numeracy for STEM at higher levels, and as a subject that should give learners opportunities for creative work and fun.
How the schemes map across the three terms
Because each week in the scheme is tied to specific learning outcomes from the design, your teaching stays aligned to what learners are actually assessed on. The scheme spreads the three strands across Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3, front- loading Numbers and building in assessment and revision. For the exact weekly sequence in your term, use the term-specific file from the catalogue below.
How Grade 1 Mathematics is assessed
Assessment at this level is mostly observation-based and practical, using the methods the design suggests – observation schedules, rating scales, projects, portfolios, short written tests and an assessment rubric. The rubric reports each learner against performance levels (from below expectations up to exceeding expectations) for each skill, so you can see exactly which sub-strand a learner needs more support on rather than reducing them to a single mark.
Planning Grade 1 Mathematics for Term 1 2027
Grade 1 Mathematics has 5 lessons a week, about 150 in the year, and Term 1 2027 runs 14 weeks, from 4 January to 9 April. For many learners Grade 1 is the first year of formal primary school, so the first weeks of Term 1 move gently, with plenty of counting, sorting and hands-on work before written tasks build up. Term 2 runs 13 weeks from 3 May and Term 3 runs 10 weeks from 30 August. The Kenya School Calendar 2027 has every date.
Who these are for
- Grade 1 teachers: a week-by-week Mathematics plan for each term, built from the KICD design.
- Head teachers and curriculum support officers: schemes are part of the professional records reviewed each term.
- Trainee teachers: a worked view of how the design's strands become a term plan.
- Anyone downloading for a teacher (including at a cyber café or school office): confirm the grade, the subject and the term before downloading.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Mathematics lessons a week are there in Grade 1? Five, under the KICD Lower Primary lesson allocation.
Are the schemes editable? Yes. They are editable Word files, so you can adjust weeks, dates and activities to your school calendar.
Do the schemes cover all three terms? Yes. Choose the term you are planning.
Looking for another Grade 1 learning area?
These Mathematics schemes are one part of a full Grade 1 set. Our Grade 1 Schemes of Work guide brings together every Grade 1 learning area, with the full weekly lesson allocation.
Download the schemes of work (Editable Word)
The full Grade 1 Mathematics schemes of work – Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3 – are in our catalogue as editable Word files, aligned to the current KICD Grade 1 Mathematics design and kept in line with the current school calendar. Use the link below to get the complete set.