Grade 2 Math: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 2 math in the BC Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Numbers to 100 represent quantities that can be decomposed into 10s and 1s.
- Development of computational fluency in addition and subtraction with numbers to 100 requires an understanding of place value.
- The regular change in increasing patterns can be identified and used to make generalizations.
- Objects and shapes have attributes that can be described, measured, and compared.
- Concrete graphs help us to compare and interpret data and show one-to-one correspondence.
Easy ways to practise math at home
- Practise math facts in short bursts, such as five minutes while dinner cooks.
- Let your child handle small cash purchases, working out the change in multiples of 5¢.
- Cook together and double or halve a recipe.
- Ask “How do you know?” after an answer, even when it is right.
What each unit covers
Tens & Ones
Seeing 47 as 4 tens and 7 ones. This place-value idea underpins all Grade 2 adding and subtracting.
Bigger or Smaller
Comparing and ordering numbers, using <, > and =, and noticing numbers close to 50.
Facts to 20
Fluent facts to 20 using strategies like making ten and thinking addition to subtract.
Adding to 100
Two-digit adding and subtracting by working with tens and ones, including making a new ten.
Patterns
Finding the repeating core of a pattern and describing how increasing patterns grow (skip counting).
Coins
Counting nickels, dimes, quarters and loonies to 100¢, and talking about spending and saving.
Measuring
Measuring with a ruler from zero and choosing between centimetres and metres.
Shapes
Describing shapes by their sides, corners (vertices) and faces, and spotting 3D shapes in real life.
Graphs
Reading picture graphs: how many, which has the most or fewest, and how many more.
Likely or Not
Using words like certain, likely, unlikely and impossible to describe everyday events and spinners.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Emerging
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Developing
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Proficient
- Has it! Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Extending
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the BC report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Grade 2 child with math?
Practise math facts in short bursts, such as five minutes while dinner cooks. Let your child handle small cash purchases, working out the change in multiples of 5¢. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Grade 2 math in BC?
The BC Curriculum Grade 2 math units include tens & ones, bigger or smaller, facts to 20, adding to 100, patterns, coins.
Free printable Grade 2 math practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.