In primary school, children can begin to learn a sense of relative time. Scientists believe that the universe is approximately 15 to 22 billion years old. Where does the existence of human life on earth fit in with this time frame? Teachers can use a long time line on the chalk board with demarcations demonstrating relative time for major events in history and pre-history, starting with the projected origin of the universe and ending with the present. This is a good science and math lesson, as students can lear to compare numbers such as thousand, hundred-thousand, millions, billions and trillions. Additionally, children may ask how scientists arrive at the age of the universe, so teachers should be prepared to answer that question as well.
Learning the basics about the planets of the solar system, the sun and moons of the various planets, including the moon of the earth, is an intriguing lesson for primary students. Such simple concepts as the number of planets (eight), why Pluto is no longer considered a planet, the fact that other planets have moons, sometimes many moons and the order of the planets relative to the sun are facts that children can learn and remember. The use of visual aids is a big help for this lesson, pictures in books, posters, research in the library or on the internet, and interactive as well as hands-on lessons such as creating solar system books, help children to learn the facts of the solar system. Teachers can teach mathematical science concepts such as the speed of light and the distance of the planets, including Earth, from the sun.
Mastering multiplication and times tables is a vital skill for children to acquire in primary school. The educational site Multiplication.com states that research indicates that rote memory is one of the least effective ways of teaching times tables. Children should be taught, using simple math, that multiplication is repeated addition. Once they acquire that concept, substitute repeated numbers for multiplication by factors. Children begin with simple times tables and progress to multiplying two and three digit numbers by the end of primary school. Flash cards and other math games are an effective way that teachers and parents can teach children, or that children can practice among themselves.
Use manipulatives in primary school to teach mathematical shapes such as triangles, squares, rectangles, and more advanced shapes such as hexagons, pentagons and octagons, as well as simple geometric concepts such as parallelograms, quadrilaterals and trapezoids. Teach the understanding of basic shapes from the child's earliest school years. Progressive development of the student's knowledge and understanding of geometry continues through primary school into high school.