2nd Grade Math: Counting Games

In second grade children extend the mathematical understanding of the base-ten system. This includes ideas of counting in fives, tens, and multiples of hundreds, tens, and ones, as well as number relationships involving these units, including comparing.

 

Children understand 2 digit and 3 digit numbers (up to 1000) written in base-ten notation, recognizing that the digits in each place represent amounts of hundreds, tens, or ones.

 

Grade 2 mathematics increases the child’s mathematical proficiency and the child learn to use and recognise words such as counting, more, less, equal.

Learning to count 3 digit numbers

A second grader understands that the three digits of a three-digit number (up to 1000) represent amounts of hundreds, tens, and ones; e.g., 209 equals 2 hundred, 0 tens, and 9 ones.

Second Grade children extend their base-ten understanding to hundreds as they view 10 -tens as a unit called a “hundred”. They use manipulative materials and pictorial representations to help make a connection between the written three-digit numbers and hundreds, tens, and ones.

                                                 

As in First Grade, Second Graders’ understanding about hundreds also moves through several stages: Counting by Ones; Counting by Groups & Singles; and Counting by Hundreds, Tens, and Ones.

Counting by Ones: At first, even though Second Graders will have grouped objects into hundreds, tens and left-overs, they rely on counting all of the individual cubes by ones to determine the final amount. It is seen as the only way to determine how many.

Counting by Groups and Singles: While children are able to group objects into collections of hundreds, tens and ones and now tell how many groups of hundreds, tens, and left-overs there are, they still rely on counting by ones to determine the final amount. They are unable to use the groups and left-overs to determine how many. For example, if there are 4 blocks of hundred, 5 blocks of tens and 6 ones, then the hundreds count as 100, 200, 300 and 400… the child counts tens as 10, 20, 30, 40 50 and child counts ones as 1,2,3,4,5,6…thus the number is 456.

Counting by Hundreds, Tens & Ones: Children are able to group objects into hundreds, tens, and ones, tell how many groups and left-overs there are, and now use that information to tell how many. Occasionally, as this stage becomes fully developed, second graders rely on counting to “really” know the amount, even though they may have just counted the total by groups and left-overs. For the same problem with 4 hundred blocks, 5 tens blocks and 6 ones blocks children will count as 100, 200,300,400,450,451,452,453,454, 455 and 456. Thus, the children learn to count in hundreds from 1-1000.

 

Second Grade children count within 1,000. Thus, children “count on” from any number and say the next few numbers that come afterward.

Example:

What are the next 3 numbers after 498? 499, 500, 501.

When you count back from 201, what are the first 3 numbers that you say? 200, 199, 198.

ODD and EVEN numbers

In grade 2 math, children learn to differentiate whether a group of objects (up to 20) has an odd or even number of members, e.g., by pairing objects or counting them by 2s. Second graders apply for their work with doubles to the concept of odd and even numbers. The focus of this standard is placed on the conceptual understanding of even and odd numbers. An even number is an amount that can be made of two equal parts with no leftovers. An odd number is one that is not even or cannot be made of two equal parts. The number endings of 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 are only an interesting and useful pattern or observation and should not be used as the definition of an even number.

 

 

 

 

Teaching manipulative used

1. Abacus

An abacus is one of the oldest and most useful math aid for representing numbers and doing various mathematical operations.  It can be used for teaching math based on common core curriculum as a manipulative.  In grade 2 math, the abacus is handy in representing three digit numbers. It makes use of the place values.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above picture is an abacus used for representing a 3 digit number place values. Each stem of the abacus can take 9 unit balls or beads. So, the largest 3 digit number will be formed by placing 9 unit balls in each stem, i.e. 999.

2. Ten’s Frame or base ten blocks

 

       A ten frame is a simple math aid that can help a child to:

• Keep track of counting
• Learn to add up to 10 and beyond
• Understand place value

 

Use circular magnets, circular cards or ten-frame mathematical toys or Lego toys to count and add numbers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Place Value Materials (groupable and pre-grouped)

 

The simplest method to define the place values at this level is to make a group of blocks to represent hundred’s, ten’s and one’s place. Children can count the number of blocks required to get to a particular value. These are also known as place value blocks. Here the total number of one’s blocks when exceeding 9, it becomes equivalent to one ten’s block. If a total number of ten’s blocks becomes more than 9, then it is also equivalent to one hundred’s block. Thus, at the end, the total number of hundred’s block also cannot exceed 9.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Teaching manipulatives for odd and even numbers

 Determining whether 6 is an even number or odd number.

One can make use of buttons as math aid for problem-solving. Start grouping them in pairs, if there is no single button left, then the number is even if not then odd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Math learning games on counting for Grade 2  

1. Number Abacus: counting 3-digit number using place values

This is a counting word problem-based math game. Look at the abacus on the screen. Count the number of beads in hundred’s, ten’s and one’s place and write the number in the space provided.  After the first set one instructions are over, next math counting problem appears.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     

 

 

2. Color me Abacus:  counting three digit numbers

 

In this 2nd grade, math activity on counting can be used to count to 0-999. Here, a number a 2 digit or 3 digit number appears on the screen. Children analyse the number and group then as hundreds, tens, and ones. This is then converted into respective place values and then the children color the beads of the abacus to represent the number.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Get set and Go!!: learn to count beyond 100

 

This is an interesting math learning game that focuses on counting beyond 100. Kids count from 100 and move to the next value till the end point is reached. This can be used as an online math game or a simple counting worksheet for learning math in grade 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Help the rabbit get to the carrot by counting. Start counting from 100 and try to reach to the carrot.

One can move only horizontally and vertically, not diagonally.

 

 

 

4. Count on Dog food:  math educational game based on skip counting

This fun and learning math activity is based on skip counting. We can count money by using skip counting technique. First count all the double-digit values, such as 10, 20, 30 40... etc. i.e. skip counting by 10. Then you can skip counting by 5 and so on.

Math game brief:

Pluto, the dog is very hungry. Help him reach to his bone.

 

 

 

5. Number trail:  simple math activity on skip counting

This learning math game is based on skip counting by 5, 10, 100 etc. this can be used as a skip counting worksheet or online game.

In this math fun game, analyze the pattern and then fill in the missing numbers.        

6. Counting crow: backward number counting

Look at the number pattern and find what will come next. This simple counting game is based on children’s cognitive skill. A grade 2 child now has a very good understanding of the numbers. The child now applies the developed math skills to count backward.

7. The counting circus

This is an interesting and fun filled online math board game. The children roll a dice and them move ahead on the number path to reach the end. This can be played with two players.

 

 

8. Counting routines

Arrange the children in a circle and ask a child to say one number say 345, the next child in the trail will speak out another number by skipping some numbers in between.

Say for example, if the teacher asks to skip count by 5, the first child says 345, the next one says 350 and so on. If anyone makes a mistake, the child moves out of the circle and the game goes on.

 

9. Counting with math cubes and units

This simple math counting worksheet is based on counting by hundreds, tens, and ones. 

 

10. Skip and Hop: Interesting learning math game on skip counting

 

 

 

About SplashLearn and Math worksheets

 The expert at SplashLearn design the core curriculum based worksheets and online games for the kids based on the cognitive skills acquired by the child to apply the concepts learned to the problems and real-life situations.

The fun games designed by the experts are age appropriate and help in stimulating the curiosity and develop an interest in math education.

The SplashLearn lab activities help the child to explore mathematical ideas by doing. Its emphasis on the heuristic approach of learning.  

Engaging yourself and your child in SplashLearn programs helps your child develop math educational skills and important life skills to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of this competitive world while having fun.