Length, Time and Money: Grade 2 Study Guide
Grade 2 introduces standard units for length, and extends time and money.
Children measure using inches and feet in the US customary system and centimeters and meters in the metric system. A ruler starts at 0, so the object's end lines up with the number that tells its length. They choose a sensible tool and unit and estimate lengths before measuring.
They tell time to the nearest five minutes, use a.m. and p.m. and solve problems with coins and dollar bills using the dollar and cent symbols.
Measuring with a ruler
Line up the 0 mark with one end. Read the number at the other end. A paper clip is about 1 inch long, a pencil about 7 inches and a door about 7 feet. Measuring the same object in inches and centimeters shows that a smaller unit gives a larger number.
| Object | Likely unit | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pencil | inches or cm | 7 inches, 18 cm |
| Playground | feet or meters | 40 feet, 12 m |
| Crayon | inches or cm | 3 inches, 8 cm |
| Road trip | miles or km | 50 miles |
Telling time
On an analog clock each number represents 5 minutes: 1 is 5 minutes, 2 is 10, 3 is 15, and so on. 4:25 means the minute hand is on 5 and the hour hand is just past 4. A.m. is from midnight to noon and p.m. is from noon to midnight.
Which hour has it passed?
Use the minute hand.
4:25.
Morning or afternoon?
Money
A penny is 1¢, a nickel 5¢, a dime 10¢ and a quarter 25¢. 100¢ make $1. To count mixed coins, start with the largest and count on: quarter, quarter, dime, nickel is 25, 50, 60, 65¢. Dollars and cents are written like $2.35. Solve problems such as 'You have $1.00 and spend 65¢. How much is left?' (35¢).
Worked examples and common mistakes
Example: A ribbon is 18 cm and another is 25 cm. The difference is 7 cm. Example: 3 dimes and 2 nickels = 30¢ + 10¢ = 40¢. Common mistakes: starting measurement at the edge of the ruler instead of at 0, reading the minute hand as the hour and confusing the value of a nickel and a dime (a dime is smaller but worth more).
Check your understanding: model answers
1. 50¢ + 10¢ = 60¢. 2. 35 minutes. 3. 3 cm longer.
✨ Key Takeaways
- Measure from 0 on a ruler.
- Each number on a clock is 5 minutes.
- Coins: 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢; 100¢ = $1.
- Choose the right unit and tool.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- How many cents are 2 quarters and 1 dime?
- The minute hand is on 7. How many minutes past the hour is it?
- A line is 12 cm and another is 9 cm. How much longer is the first?
Print graph paper for measuring →