Number Sense

In second grade math, number sense will be an area of math that students spend a lot of time on. Number sense means having an understanding of basic math skills and numbers, including what they are, what they represent, and the rules for using them. Place value will be used more and more, focusing on counting and grouping objects into ones, tens, and hundreds. Students will have fun learning about expanded form and will be able to identify numbers written in this form. They’ll also be able to give the value of a digit within a larger number. Zero becomes a focus and they’ll learn to use it as a placeholder.

Number sense in second grade also includes writing numbers and matching them to numerals. It includes comparing and ordering numbers, using words and symbols for greater than, less than, and equal to. Students will practice skip counting up to 1,000 using both mental math and pictures. They’ll continue skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s, and also start skip counting by 3s and 4s. Students will continue to use a number line and will also begin to round numbers to the nearest ten. Odd and even numbers will be practiced and students should begin to have a solid understanding of this concept. Students will also expand their second grade math vocabulary. Number sense in second grade math builds upon what students have learned in kindergarten and first grade, while it gets them ready for the next step.