What your child will learn in maths#

Every day, your child is finding out about, and using, mathematical ideas such as counting, measuring, sorting, patterns, numbers, shapes, size and position. You can support their understanding and confidence with mathematics by helping them to notice patterns, shapes, sizes, and numbers wherever you are and by including mathematical ideas in their play, interests and everyday activities.

Having good mathematical skills and a positive view of themselves as maths learners will help your child in the future. They are important for solving problems and creative thinking. When talking to your child about maths, encourage them to use the vocabulary that they have been using in their maths classes.

Numbers#

Your child is learning to:

• Understand numbers up to 100 by recognising, reading, and writing numbers and counting forward and backward in 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s from any number up to 100. Children also use place value to show numbers, such as 32 is 3 10s and 2 1s.
• Add and subtract using place value ideas, such as by breaking numbers into 10s and 1s (for example, 53 + 21 = 74). Your child will also be learning to quickly recall addition facts up to 10 and exploring facts up to 20.
• Multiply and divide using skip counting and grouping to multiply and divide (for example, 4 × 5 as "4 groups of 5").
• Understand fractions by recognising and showing ½, ¼, and ⅛ in different ways, such as drawings and equipment as well as numbers. Children learn to compare fractions halves, quarters and eighths to see which is larger. They find a half and quarter of a set by identifying groups and patterns, such as 2 lots of 5 make 10, so 5 is half of 10.
• Work with money by ordering New Zealand coins and notes up to $20 from smallest to largest. Children will also make groups of the same notes of coins and add them up. For example, with 2 $5 notes and a $10 note, they’ll group the $5 notes together and then add: $5 + $5 + $10 = $20.

Algebra#

Your child is learning to:

• Use the equal sign – by solving problems with addition and subtraction and missing numbers. For example, in the sentence ‘18 + _ = 17 + 6’ they will work out what number makes both sides equal ‘18 + 5 = 17 + 6’.
• Identify the repeating part of a pattern to predict what comes next. For example, circle, square, triangle, star, circle, square. Children will explore patterns with equipment, sounds, movement, and shapes.
• Give and follow simple instructions – for example, drawing a shape, making a sandwich – as well as checking and correcting steps to make sure they make sense.

Measurement#

Your child is learning to:

• Estimate and measure the size, weight, or amount of space something takes up, using everyday objects instead of standard units like centimetres or grams. For example, they might use paperclips to measure the length of a pen, count how many blocks weigh the same as an apple, or use cups to measure how much water fits in a bottle. Children develop ideas about perimeter by exploring measurements using informal ideas such as how many steps, string, or pencils go around the outside of a shape or area by looking at how many books or blocks cover a desk.
• Describe turns by using full, half, and quarter turns.
• Name and order the months of the year, and to name when each season happens. They are also learning how to describe how long things take, using units like months, weeks, days, and hours.
• Tell the time on an analogue clock to the hour and half-hour, using the words 'o'clock' and 'half past'.

Geometry#

Your child is learning to:

• Recognise, describe, and sort different 2D and 3D shapes based on their features, like sides, corners, and faces. In Year 2, students look at ovals, semicircles, polygons (for example, hexagons, pentagons), rectangular prisms (cuboids), pyramids, hemispheres, and cones.
• Find lines of symmetry in pictures and patterns by creating or completing symmetrical patterns, like drawing the other half of a shape or pattern to make it match the first half.
• Follow and give instructions to move people or objects to a different location, using direction and distances, for example, the number of steps, and half and quarter turns. Children will also look at diagrams to find objects and describe their position.

Statistics#

Your child is learning to carry out a statistical investigation with the teacher and classmates by:

• asking questions about categories (like favourite colours or types of animals our class has as pets) and predict what the data might show
• planning questions for a survey to collect information
• recording, sorting and presenting data using surveys, tallies, tables, picture graphs, and dot plots
• analysing statements to decide which statement best answers the original question based on data, for example, "cats are the most common pet in the room – there are 7 cats and only 3 dogs".
• developing statistical literacy by checking to see if they agree or disagree with the statements other people make about graphs and data.

Probability#

Your child is learning to take part in a probability investigation by:

• Investigating chance by coming up with a question to investigate – for example "what is the chance of flipping heads on a coin?" In Year 2, children will be looking at situations that have equally likely outcomes, like rolling a die, or flipping a coin, and predicting what might happen before testing it.
• Collecting and recording data by doing experiments and showing their results using tallies, or dot plots.
• Comparing results and probabilities by discussing what they found out after their experiments and comparing their results with others.

Resource#