White Rose Maths Year 1: What Students Learn And The Resources To Support Them

Here we look at the White Rose Maths Year 1 scheme of learning, the topics it covers across the year and provide lots of sample questions and White Rose Maths resources for those following White Rose in Year 1.  

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About White Rose Maths 

The White Rose Maths scheme of learning follows the national curriculum with a mastery approach to maths with a range of fluency, reasoning and problem solving elements. They also encourage concrete, pictorial and abstract representations to develop deep understanding of mathematical concepts. 

Read more: White Rose Maths

It is thought that approximately 70% of schools in the UK follow the White Rose Maths scheme of work and this is reflected in the thousands of students Third Space Learning tutors every week. Our tutors are highly skilled maths and pedagogy experts, well trained in the language, representations and approach used by White Rose. They are therefore able to deliver a one to one lesson that feels familiar to students who are also used to White Rose. 

Throughout this article you’ll see example lesson slides and example questions from Third Space Learning’s Year 1 maths curriculum that exemplify best practice teaching to the White Rose Maths Year 1 scheme. 

We’ve also provided lots of links to White Rose Maths Year 1 and key stage 1 learning resources that are suitable for use for each topic. In addition to the links provided, Third Space Learning also offers libraries for White Rose Maths Year 2, White Rose Maths Year 3, White Rose Maths Year 4, White Rose Maths Year 5 and White Rose Maths Year 6.

About the White Rose Maths Year 1 scheme of learning

The primary school White Rose Maths scheme of learning has gone through several iterations and versions up to the current version 3. The scheme of learning SOL is designed as guidance and it is not necessarily intended for each small step to take one lesson. As with all teaching, it is important that teachers adapt this SOL for their class/ pupils. 

Topics covered in Year 1 White Rose Maths scheme of learning work

The White Rose Maths Year 1 SOL outlines which topics are taught, and when, throughout the autumn, spring and summer terms of Year 1. 

The breakdown for Version 3 of the scheme of learning is as follows 

Year 1 autumn term

  • Place value (within 10)
  • Addition and subtraction (within 10)
  • Shape

Year 1 spring term

  • Place value (within 20)
  • Addition and subtraction (within 20)
  • Place value (within 50)
  • Length and height
  • Mass and volume

Year 1 summer term

  • Multiplication and division
  • Fractions
  • Position and direction
  • Place value (within 100)
  • Money
  • Time
year 1 white rose scheme of learning

​​Third Space Learning has created several collections of White Rose Maths aligned resources for all primary year groups from early years through to Year 6. These resources can provide a different perspective on a topic and so help pupils spend the time needed to fully embed a concept.

Here is a summary of the different collections available for schools following Year 1 White Rose Maths, many of them free to download from our maths hub. Links to the topic specific versions are provided within each termly breakdown below:

Ready to go lesson slides

These ready-to-go lesson slides come in the form of editable powerpoints with related worksheets that are designed for everyday teaching. The slides cover both version 2 of the White Rose scheme of learning (in blue) and version 3 of the SOL. They also include support slides that can be used to support pupils who need a little extra  pre/ post teaching to support their understanding.

Year 1 ready-to-go lesson slides

Pre and Post Diagnostic Questions 

These tests can be used before starting the place value block to assess gaps, and after teaching the place value block to identify progress. 

Diagnostic Assessments Year 1

Worked examples

Pupils check over completed questions to identify errors (or identify correct answers). Pupils are encouraged to explain the errors they find, not just ‘mark’ work. These worked examples help to solidify understanding by getting the pupil to discuss errors and how to avoid them. 

Year 1 Worked Examples

White Rose Maths Year 1 autumn term

In the autumn term, Year 1 focuses on place value (within 10), addition and subtraction (within 10) and shape.

Place value Year 1

Place value is taught as four separate blocks across the year, in year 1; with children working within 10 in the Autumn term, within 20 and within 50 in the spring term and within 100 in the summer term.

Place value(within 10) Year 1

This first place value block is the longest of the four place value blocks, spanning five weeks. At this stage, pupils learn to sort, count and represent objects; recognise numbers as words; count on and backwards within 10 and find 1 more /1 less. Children also learn to compare and order numbers and to use a number line

place value to 10
Pupils compare objects using the words ‘fewer’, ‘more’, and ‘the same’ .
place value to 10 number line
Pupils are introduced to number lines from 0 to 10. 

Example year 1 place value (within 10) questions

1. How many apples are there?

(Can you put a tens frame here, with 7 apples?)

Answer: 7 apples

2. Circle 7 ladybirds.

Answer: 7 ladybirds circled

Addition and subtraction Year 1

Addition and subtraction is another topic, which is split across several blocks. Children learn to add and subtract within 10 in the autumn term and progress to adding and subtracting within 20 in the spring term.

Addition and subtraction (within 10) Year 1

In this first addition and subtraction block, pupils use part-whole models to investigate parts and wholes. Children learn to write number sentences; identify fact families and to calculate number bonds to 10. They use a range of concrete resources and pictorial representations to support them when adding and subtracting.

counter addition
Pupils are encouraged to use concrete resources to find number bonds to 10. 
number line subtraction
As pupils have used a 0 to 10 number line in the place
value within 10 block, they can then use number lines
to complete subtraction calculations. 

Example year 1 addition and subtraction questions

1. How many counters are there altogether?

10 frame showing 8

Answer: 8 counters

2. Ben had 10 sweets. He gave 4 to his sister. How many did he have left?

pictorial 10

Answer: 6 sweets.

Shape Year 1

Pupils begin this block by recognising, naming and sorting 3D shapes. They move on to investigating 2D shapes and learn to make patterns using both 2D and 3D shapes.

year 1 shape slide
Pupils focus on naming 3-D shapes and identifying
them when they are shown in a range of orientations. 
year 1 2d shapes slide
When pupils are confident in naming 2-D shapes,
they can sort them into groups using different
properties such as names of shapes, colours, size. 

Example year 1 shape questions

1. Match the shape name to the shape.

shapes and names

Answer: Shapes labelled 

2. 2 shapes were used to make a pattern. 

a) Can you draw the rest of the pattern?

b) Can you name the 2 shapes in the pattern?

shape pattern

Answer:

shape pattern answer

White Rose Maths Year 1 spring term

In the spring term, Year 1 focuses on place value (within 20), addition and subtraction (within 20), place value (within 50), length & height and mass & volume.

Place value within 20 Year 1

This second place value block is a shorter block than in the autumn term. Pupils count within 20 and continue to build on their understanding of 1 more and 1 less. They use a number line to 20 and learn to compare and order numbers to 20. 

counting to 20 slide
Pupils look at the numbers between 10 and 20,
including 20 itself. When looking at 20, pupils
learn to understand that 2 tens are equivalent to 20. 
10 frames to 20 slide
Pupils continue to use concrete resources to compare numbers within 20. 

Example year 1 place value within 20 questions

1. Write down the number shown in the tens frame.

base 10s showing 14

Answer: 14

2. What number is represented here?

deines showing 17

Answer: 17

Addition and subtraction (within 20) Year 1

In this second addition and subtraction block, pupils memorise and reason with number bonds to 20. They also investigate doubles and near doubles and learn to subtract using number bonds; counting back and finding the difference. Children also explore related facts and missing number problems. 

10s frame to 20 addition
Pupils apply their understanding of number bonds to 10 to finding number bonds to 20. 
10s frame to 20 addition word problem
Pupils apply their knowledge of addition and subtraction to missing number problems. 

Example year 1 addition and subtraction (within 20) questions

1. Use the tens frame to work out 8 + 7

10s frame to 20 showing 15

Answer: 15

2. What is 17 – 5?

number line to 20

Answer: 12

Place value (within 50) Year 1

In this third place value block, pupils count from 20 to 50, in ones and by making groups of ten. Children learn to partition numbers into tens and ones; estimate on a number line to 50 and continue to build on their understanding of one more and one less.

place value within 50 slide
Pupils look at making groups of ten when counting to minimise counting errors.
counters on a number line
Pupils apply their understanding of the order of numbers to
estimating the position of numbers on a number line up to 50. 

Example year 1 place value (within 50) questions

1. 64 = ____ tens and ____ ones

Answer: 6 tens and 4 ones

2. Fill in the missing numbers:

25, ___, 27, 28, ____, 30, ____

Answer: 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Length and height Year 1

This is a short block, in which pupils learn to compare lengths and height. Children  measure length using objects and are introduced to using rulers to measure length in centimetres.

length and height slide
Pupils compare the lengths and heights of objects
using the words taller, shorter, longer, longest and shortest. 
length year 1
Pupils use rulers to measure in centimetres. 

Example year 1 length and height questions

1. Which pencil is longer?

length question

Answer: Pencil B is longer

2. Complete the sentence, so it is correct:

Line ____ is the shortest line.

length and measure

Answer: Line B is the shortest line

Mass and volume Year 1

In this block, pupils investigate the concepts of heavier / lighter and full / empty. Children also learn to measure and compare mass, volume and capacity. 

year 1 mass slide
Pupils measure and compare masses using non-standard units of measure. 
year 1 volume slide
Pupils learn the difference between capacity and volume.
They compare the volumes of containers with the same capacity.

Example year 1 mass and volume questions

1. Which is heavier?

mass question

Answer: The train is heavier

2. Which container has less water?

volume question

Answer: Container B has less water

White Rose Maths Year 1 summer term

In the summer term, Year 1 focuses on multiplication & division, fractions, position & direction, place value (within 100), money and time.

Multiplication and division Year 1

Pupils begin to understand times tables, multiplication and division, through grouping and sharing small quantities. They learn to  count in 2s, 5s and 10s, followed by recognising and adding equal groups, and making arrays and  doubles.

Example year 1 multiplication and division questions

1.

3 times tables

Answer:

3 + 3 + 3 = 9

3 x 3 = 9

2. Share between 4

grouping question

Answer:

grouping answer

Fractions Year 1

In year 1, pupils are taught half and quarter as fractions, by solving problems using shapes, objects and quantities. Children use a range of practical resources and visual representations to help them understand the concept of fractions. 

Example year 1 fractions questions

1.Shade in \frac{1}{4} of this shape

fractions question

Answer:

fractions answer

2. Put a ring round half the circles

fractions grouping question

Answer: Ring round 5 circles

Position and direction Year 1

This is a short unit in year 1. Pupils use the language of position, direction and motion. They learn to describe turns and position, using left, right, forwards, backwards, above and below. Pupils also learn to make whole, half, quarter and three-quarter turns in both directions.

Example year 1 position and direction questions

  1. Move the triangle down then left
direction

Answer:

direction answer

Place value (within 100) Year 1

In this final place value block of year 1, pupils count from 50 to 100 and use a number line to 100. They continue to build on their understanding of partitioning into tens and ones; finding one more and one less and their understanding of comparing numbers.

Example year 1 place value questions

1. What number is represented here?

dienes showing 76

Answer: 76 

2, How many tens and how many ones in the number 52?

Answer: 5 tens and 2 ones

Money Year 1

Money is a short unit in year 1. At this stage,  pupils learn to recognise and know the value of different denominations of notes and coins. 

Example year 1 money questions

1. How much money is shown?

a)

3p cions

b)

8p coins

c)

5p coins

Answer:

a) 3p

 b) 8p

c) 5p

2. Circle the group with the most money.

a)

5 x 10p coins

b)

5 x 2p coins

Answer: A has more money

Time Year 1

In year 1, pupils use the language of time. They learn the days of the week; months of the year; hours, minutes and seconds. Children are introduced to telling the time to the hour and to the half hour.

Example year 1 time questions

1. What time is each clock showing?

clocks question

Answer:  a) 4 o’clock and  b) Half past 9

2. Draw the hands on each clock, to show the time.

blank clocks

Answer:

clocks answer
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