In 2nd-grade math class, your child will continue to build the basic math skills they learned in kindergarten and first grade. They’ll dive deeper into place value, addition, and subtraction. They’ll also explore time, money, measurement, and basic geometric principles.
While these may seem like simple concepts, they provide the foundation for more complex math skills in the years to come.
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2nd Grade Math Skills
In first grade, your child learned many basic math principles. They learned how to count, add, and subtract within 20, identify shapes, and tell time by the hour. This year, your child will take all those skills to the next level.
Here’s a closer look at some critical math skills covered this year.
Place Value
Last year, your child learned about the tens and ones places. For example, they discovered that it takes two tens and three ones to make the number 23.
This year, your child will extend their knowledge of place value to the thousands place. They’ll be asked to compare two three-digit numbers to see which one is bigger.
They’ll also need to write numbers up to 1000 using words, numerals, and expanded form. Here’s an example with the number 947:
- Nine hundred forty-seven
- 947
- 900 + 40 + 7
Addition and Subtraction
By the end of second grade, your child will have been taught how to add and subtract numbers up to 100 using a variety of strategies. They’ll also be expected to have memorized all sums of two one-digit numbers, such as 7+5 and 9+8.
Second graders also practice addition and subtraction facts in story problems. They’ll learn to solve two-step word problems like this:
Tristan has 7 apples in his basket and picks 4 more. After that, he gives away 5 apples to his friend. How many apples does he have left?
He has 6 left: 7+4=11, 11-5=6.
Your child’s teacher will introduce them to regrouping, also known as borrowing and carrying. However, this skill takes time to master. They’ll practice it many times over the next couple of years.
Data and Probability
In second grade, your child will work on drawing and interpreting data from pictographs and bar graphs. They’ll make line plots and solve simple problems using the data.
Second graders also study basic probability concepts, such as the terms “likely,” and “unlikely,” and “possible,” and “impossible.” They may also experiment with spinners or dice to create and compare probabilities.
Geometry
By second grade, your child may already know a lot about basic geometric shapes. This year, they’ll learn about quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes. They’ll count angles and faces and practice drawing 2D and 3D shapes.
Fractions are another skill covered in second grade. Your child will divide circles and rectangles into halves, thirds, and fourths.
Learning Activities to Reinforce 2nd Grade Math Skills
Now that you know what to expect from 2nd grade math, let’s talk about some fun ways to help your child practice these skills at home.
These math games and activities are:
- Simple to learn
- Fun and engaging
- Focused on one primary math skill
Best of all, most don’t require any special materials, so you can start playing immediately. Let’s have some fun!
1) I’m Thinking of a Number
If you have a few minutes of downtime, you can play a round or two of this quick number game.
What You’ll Need:
- At least two players
What to Do:
One person starts by thinking of a three-digit number. Once you have one, say, “I’m thinking of a number that…”
Then, give your child a clue to help them narrow it down. Here are a few suggestions:
- Has a (specific number) in the ones place
- Is bigger than 200
- Doesn’t have a 2 in it
- Is even
Ask them to guess what number you’re thinking of. If they don’t get it right, tell them if their guess was bigger or smaller than your number.
You can give them additional clues as they try to guess your number. After they get it, have them pick a number for you to guess.
2) Make Me a Pizza
If your child enjoys pretend play, they’ll have fun with this fraction activity!
What You’ll Need:
- Drawing paper
- A pencil
- Crayons or colored pencils
- Something round to trace (like a Tupperware lid or a small plate)
What to Do:
Show your child how to trace the round object to make a circle on the paper. Then, ask them to listen carefully to your pizza order so they can deliver just what you want.
Pretend to call and place a pizza order. Use specific, fraction-based directions, such as, “I’d like a pizza that…”
- Has ¼ plain cheese, ¼ pepperoni, and ½ sausage and mushroom
- Is half pepperoni and half cheese
- Is cut into four equal pieces, with exactly five pieces of pepperoni on each one
- Has anchovies on only ⅓ of your pepperoni pizza
Once you place your “order,” ask your child to draw lines to divide the pizza into the correct number of slices. Then, have them use the coloring supplies to decorate each piece to match your order.
When they deliver it to you, verify it’s right before accepting the order. If it’s not, send them back to try again after repeating the directions.
If desired, you can switch places and take a turn as the chef. That way, your child gets a chance to order.
3) Big Number, Small Number
Help your child compare numbers using the principles of place value with this simple activity.
What You’ll Need:
- 10 index cards
- A permanent marker
- A bag to keep the cards in when you’re done playing
What to Do:
With the marker, write a numeral 0-9 on each index card.
Shuffle the cards and randomly select three to give to your child. Ask them to make the biggest number possible. Then, have them make the smallest number they can.
Here’s an example:
- Your child gets the numerals 4, 9, 2
- The biggest number they can make is 942
- The smallest number they can make is 249
If they get them right, hand them three different numbers. If they need help, ask them to start with the hundreds place and decide which of their numbers is the biggest (or smallest.) That one goes first. Then, they can do the tens place. The final number goes in the ones place.
After a few rounds, hand your child all the cards and ask them to make the biggest three-digit number they can (987). Finally, have them make the smallest one possible (102).
4) Flip to 100
Your child can practice their addition skills with a standard deck of playing cards.
What You’ll Need:
A deck of playing cards with the face cards removed
A piece of paper and a pencil for each payer
What to Do:
For the first turn, ask each player to turn over one card and write the number at the top of their paper.
On each subsequent turn, players:
- Flip over one card
- Write the number below the previous one
- Add the two numbers to get a new running total
The first person to reach 100 without going over is the winner! If you get through all the cards and no one is at 100, the player with the highest number wins.
Here’s a fun variation:
Each player starts with 100. After flipping a card, they write down the value and subtract it from their current number. The person who gets the closest to 0 is the winner.
5) Shape Drawing
Help your child recognize the basic shapes in everyday objects with this hands-on drawing activity.
What You’ll Need:
- Paper
- Pencil
- Colored pencils or crayons (optional)
What to Do:
Challenge your child to draw different objects using only geometric shapes. Here are some ideas they can try:
- Castle
- Car
- House
- Tree
- Rocket ship
Encourage them to get creative and use a variety of shapes like circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, and ovals. For a harder challenge, see if they can work in some 3d shapes like cylinders or cubes.
They can also add details or color their drawing for extra fun.
After they’re done, see if they can name all the shapes they used. They can keep a tally of how many times they used each one and see which one they used the most (or least).
Build Math Skills With Begin
Here at Begin, we know how important 2nd grade math skills are. That’s why we built them into our age- and stage-based learning memberships. With HOMER and CodeSpark, we use a variety of engaging activities to reinforce key mathematical concepts.
Your child will have so much fun while they’re learning. It really is screen time you can feel good about!
