NCERT Joyful Mathematics, Class 1, textbook pages 1–9

How to teach Class 1 Maths Chapter 1, Finding the Furry Cat!, at home

Position words and sorting, taught with things you already have at home: a 10-minute activity, a game for the week, a 5-day plan and the mistakes to watch for.

aboveinside

NCERT Class 1 Maths Chapter 1 Finding the Furry Cat!: what it teaches

Before numbers make sense, a child needs the words for where things are and the habit of putting like things together. This chapter is the vocabulary of maths: inside, on, under, before, after.

Why it matters later. Every later chapter uses these words. “The ones digit is on the right”, “the number after 19”, “the shape on top” all assume your child already owns the language of position and order.

See it: this chapter in pictures

on: touchingabove: not touching
On means touching. Above means there is a gap.
frontboxbottlecupballthe cup is after the bottle, before the ball
Agree which end is the front first. Then before and after have one answer.
redbluegreensorted by colour; try size next
The same pile can be sorted by more than one rule.

You need

  • a soft toy
  • a box or basket
  • a cushion
  • a cup and spoon
  • a handful of buttons or rajma

Tonight’s 10 minutes

  1. Hide the toy while your child covers their eyes. Give one clue with one position word: “It is under something soft.” Then swap, so your child gives you the clues.
  2. Line up five things on the floor like a train. Ask “What is before the cup? What is after the spoon?” Point to which way the train faces first.
  3. Tip the buttons out and ask your child to sort them. When they finish, ask “Can you sort them another way?” Colour, size and number of holes all count.

Words to use

  • inside / outside
  • on / under
  • above / below
  • top / bottom
  • near / far
  • before / after

Watch for

  • Mixing up on and above. On means touching. Hold your hand above the table, then put it on the table, and let your child do the same.
  • Before and after flip when the line turns round. Always agree which end is the front before you ask.

What it sounds like at home

A short example of the conversation. Your words will differ; the questions are what matter.

YouThe toy is hiding. It is under something soft.

Your childUnder the pillow?

YouNot the pillow. Something else soft, near the door.

Your childThe mat! It was under the mat.

YouYes. Now you hide it and give me clues.

A game for this week: Treasure clues

  1. Hide one small thing somewhere in a room.
  2. Give three clues, each with one position word: “It is inside something. It is near the door. It is under something soft.”
  3. Your child finds it, then hides it and gives you three clues.
  4. Score a point for every clue that was correct. Children love catching a parent’s wrong clue.

A 5-day plan, 10 minutes a day

  1. Day 1Hide-and-find the toy with position clues.
  2. Day 2Kitchen train: line up five things and ask before/after questions.
  3. Day 3Sort buttons two different ways.
  4. Day 4Tidy one shelf together using top, bottom, middle.
  5. Day 5Treasure clues game, child gives all the clues.

Everyday moments to practise

  • Putting shoes away: inside the rack or outside?
  • Laying the table: the spoon goes on the plate, the glass near it.
  • In a queue: who is before us, who is after us?
  • Tidying toys: cars on the top shelf, books on the bottom.

Quick check

Ask these at the end of the week. Tap to see the answer.

Put the spoon inside the cup, then under it. Can your child do both without help?

Yes if they change the position, not just move the spoon near the cup.

In a line of shoe, bottle, cup (front first), what is after the bottle?

The cup.

Sort 10 buttons two different ways.

Any two rules they can say out loud, e.g. by colour, then by size.

Ready for the next chapter when your child…

  • Can follow an instruction like “put the spoon under the plate” first time.
  • Can say what is before and after something in a line.
  • Can sort a mixed pile and explain the rule.

Activities, wording and illustrations are Mathify Kids’ own, following the topics of NCERT’s Joyful Mathematics (Class 1). See the full Class 1 parent guide for every chapter.

Questions parents ask

What are pre-number concepts in Class 1 maths?

They are the ideas children need before counting makes sense: position words (inside, on, under, above, below, before, after), comparing, and sorting things into groups.

My child knows the words but mixes up on and above. Is that normal?

Yes. On means touching and above means not touching. Show both with your hand over a table, then let your child copy you.

Why does sorting count as maths?

Sorting by a rule is the start of classifying, which leads to counting groups, reading graphs and later algebra.