Struggling with planning 1st grade math centers that are engaging and align with Common Core standards that you can use all year long? You’ll love this post with tons of helpful links to help you find the best 1st grade math centers for your classroom!

*If you’re a 2nd grade teacher, head to this post!
The Importance of 1st Grade Math Centers for Common Core
Math centers provide the perfect time for students to practice, review, and apply the strategies they’ve been learning. My students have math centers every day, and it’s definitely a favorite!
Aligning your math centers to the standards and skills you’re working on in the classroom is essential! Selecting standards-based Common Core math centers reinforces everything you’re working on in math!
*If you’re not sure how to get math centers implemented in your classroom, you’ll want to check out this post on getting started with guided math!
There are 4 critical focus areas in 1st grade Common Core math standards.
1st Grade Operations & Algebraic Thinking Math Centers
First, the operations and algebraic thinking standards require 1st grade students to represent and solve addition and subtraction problems, solve word problems, apply the properties of operations, and add and subtract within 20.

You can find math centers to match each operations and algebraic thinking standard:
- 1.OA.6 – Fact Fluency
- 1.OA.7 – Equal Sign
- 1.OA.8 – Unknown Numbers
- Mini Bundle of all OA centers
1st Grade Numbers & Operations in Base Ten
Next, the numbers & operations in base ten standards for 1st grade is mostly focused on place value. First graders develop a deep understanding of two-digit place value, as well as using place value strategies to add within 100.

You can find math centers to match each operations and algebraic thinking standard:
- 1.NBT.5 – 10 More/Less
- 1.NBT.6 – Subtract Multiples of Ten
- Mini Bundle of all NBT centers
1st Grade Measurement & Data
Next, the 1st grade measurement and data standards require students to develop an understanding of measurement and lengths. They also will work on telling time to the hour and half hour and basic graphing!
You can find math centers to match each operations and algebraic thinking standard:
- 1.MD.1 – Ordering Objects by Length
- 1.MD.2 – Non Standard Measurement
- 1.MD.3 – Time to the Hour & Half Hour
- 1.MD.4 – Data & Graphing
- Mini Bundle of all MD centers
1st Grade Geometry
In the final area, first grade geometry works on reasoning with shapes and their attributes. They will also partition shapes into halves and fourths.
You can find math centers to match each geometry standard:
- 1.G.1 – Shape Attributes
- 1.G.2 – Composite Shapes
- 1.G.3 – Halves & Quarters
- Mini Bundle of Geometry centers
If you’ve finished reading this post and are thinking, I want these for ALL of the 1st grade standards, don’t worry! I’ve got you covered! Click the image below or click here to find them all!