Strategies for efficiently solving single-digit addition and subtraction problems are introduced and practiced. Students should be able to solve 100 single-digit addition problems within five minutes by midyear. Students also learn basic multiplication as "equal groups" addition. Equal groups are sets of numbers added together. For example, 2 x 10 signifies two groups of 10.
Various forms of measurement are taught including time, temperature, standard and metric length, volume, weight and money. Time skills include reading an analog or digital clock, comprehending the calendar and determining elapsed time. Money skills include identifying coins and their value and writing money amounts using the dollar or cent sign. Students are also taught the concepts of estimation and rounding off a whole number to the nearest 10.
Students in second grade extend their understanding of lines and shapes by defining the characteristics of two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects and their placement or movement in a space. Attributes of shapes include their names, angles, vertices and number of sides or faces.
An understanding of place value leads to two- and three-digit addition and subtraction, with and without regrouping. Strategies are introduced for solving a variety of story problems. Students interpret story problems to determine whether addition or subtraction is required. Practice with manipulating quantities enables students to form algorithms, write number sentences and solve for missing quantities. By midyear, students begin learning about fractions as parts of a whole or as part of a set.
Data is collected and represented using such graphs as Venn diagrams, bar graphs, line graphs and pie charts. Students learn to read, interpret, create and fill in graphs appropriate to context.
Second graders learn to identify and extend growing, shrinking and repeating patterns using a wide range of element types. Practice involves completing a pattern. For example, the child will determine which numbers complete a sequence of odd numbers.