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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#
With your child, you could:
- play 'shops' with real or fake coins – let your child practice exchanging money while pretending to buy and sell household items
- create a number hunt around your house – write numbers on sticky notes and hide them then have your child find them and put them in order from smallest to largest
- practice skip counting while doing everyday activities – count by 2s while putting away pairs of socks, by 5s while setting the table or by 10s while climbing stairs
- cook together using simple recipes – let your child measure ingredients and discuss fractions like a half, quarter and whole cup as you cook
- play 'higher or lower' guessing games with numbers – think of a number between 1 and 20 and give your child clues as they guess if the actual number is higher or lower.
Your child is learning to:
- understand numbers up to 100 by recognising, reading, and writing numbers
- counting forward and backward in 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s from any number up to 100
- use place value to show numbers, like 32 is 3 10s and 2 1s
- add and subtract using place value, like breaking numbers into 10s and 1s (53 + 21 = 74)
- quickly recall addition facts up to 10 and explore facts up to 20
- multiply and divide using skip counting and grouping (4 × 5 as '4 groups of 5')
- understand fractions by recognising and showing ½, ¼, and ⅛ in different ways, like drawings and equipment
- compare fractions to see which is larger and find halves and quarters of sets by identifying groups and patterns
- work with money by ordering coins and notes up to $20 from smallest to largest, then group them and add them up ($5 + $5 + $10 = $20).
Words include:
- cent, coin, dollar, note
- denominator
- eighth
- estimate, estimation
- money
- multiply, divide
- numerator
- place value
- quantity, amount
- regroup.
Algebra#
With your child, you could:
- write and follow a simple recipe together
- learn and sing the chorus to a song, or a simple dance routine with repeating moves
- find and talk about patterns, such as those on cultural fabrics, carvings or artworks.
Your child is learning that the equal sign means both sides of an equation have the same value. For example, in the problem '18 + _ = 17 + 6', they work out that the missing number is 5, because 18 + 5 equals 17 + 6.
This helps them see that addition and subtraction are connected and that balance is key in maths.
Your child is learning to:
- discover that patterns work by identifying what repeats and can guess what comes next – for example, circle, square, triangle, star, circle, square
- explore similar ideas using sounds, movements, and various shapes.
Your child is practising how to give and follow simple instructions. Whether it’s drawing a shape or making a sandwich, they learn to check each step and correct mistakes.
Words include:
- error
- predict.
Measurement#
With your child, you could:
- Look at a calendar and ask, "how many days/weeks until an event?" "How many days in the month?" Or, how many weekends?" Encourage your child to look for patterns.
- Make a timer challenge for regular activities. Time how long it takes to brush your teeth, put on shoes, or clean up toys. Talk about minutes and which activities take longer or shorter amounts of time.
- Create measuring puzzles, such as "find something in the kitchen that's longer than your hand but shorter than your arm", or "find something heavier than a pencil but lighter than a book".
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 paper clips to gauge the length of a pen
- count how many blocks weigh the same as an apple
- use cups to see how much water it takes to fill a bottle.
They are learning to:
- explore perimeter measurement using informal ideas such as how many steps pieces of string, or pencils fit around a shape or area. This hands-on approach helps build a natural sense of measurement without needing standard units like centimeters or grams
- describe turns using full, half and quarter turns. This helps them understand directions and movement in everyday objects and activities
- name and order months of the year and when each season happens. This includes how to describe time spans using months, weeks, days, and hours
- tell the time on an analogue clock to the hour and half-hour using words like 'o'clock' and 'half past'.
Words include:
- area
- full turn, half turn, quarter turn
- half past
- months of the year
- perimeter
- seasons of the year
- surface
- width.
Geometry#
With your child, you could:
- Fold a piece of paper to create symmetrical designs. Fold paper in half, make cuts or drawings, then unfold to reveal symmetrical patterns, showing how the shape is the same on both sides.
- Create shape art with paper. Cut out basic shapes and let your child arrange them to create pictures – a square house with a triangle roof, or a rocket made from rectangles and circles.
- Build with blocks, boxes, or recycled containers. As your child builds, talk about the shapes they're using. "That tower has a square base and a triangle on top!" This helps them understand how 3D shapes work together.
- Make an obstacle course or maze where 1 person has to give directions to the other using left and right turns, and forward and back.
Your child is learning to:
- recognise, describe, and sort different 2D and 3D shapes based on their features, like sides, corners, and faces
- 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
- look at diagrams to find objects and describe their position.
Words include:
- direction
- left, right
- oval, semicircle, polygon (hexagon, pentagon), rectangular prism (cuboid), pyramid, hemisphere, cone
- position
- symmetry, line of symmetry
- vertex.
Statistics#
With your child, you could:
- Use comparison language throughout the day. Talk about 'more than,' 'less than,' 'most popular,' or 'least favourite' to build statistical vocabulary naturally.
- Play 'estimate and count.' Ask your child to guess how many there are (like a handful of cereal or toys in a container) before you count the objects.
- Sort and count collections of objects. Gather small toys, buttons, or snacks and help your child sort them by colour, size, or type. Ask questions like "which group has the most?" or "which has the fewest?".
Your child is learning to:
- ask and predict – asking simple questions about topics like favourite colours or pets and guess what the answers might be
- plan a survey with clear questions to collect information from classmates
- collect and organise data using tools like surveys, tallies, tables, picture graphs, and dot plots, they record and sort the data
- analyse results by comparing numbers to decide which statement best answers a question – for example, noticing that there are 7 cats and only 3 dogs, so cats are the most common pet
- develop critical thinking by checking if they agree or disagree with what is said about data and building their skills in understanding graphs and statistics.
These steps help build a strong foundation in data literacy and critical thinking by making statistics accessible and fun.
Words include:
- category
- graph
- notice
- outcome
- statement
- table
- title.
Probability#
With your child, you could:
- talk about whether stories are likely or unlikely
- watch for naturally occurring probability moments – when waiting for a traffic light to change or wondering which checkout line at the store will move faster, talk about how we can make guesses but can't know for sure.
Your child is learning about probability by:
- exploring situations with equal chances, such as rolling a dice or flipping a coin, and predicting what might happen
- collecting and recording data by doing experiments and recording their results using tallies or dot plots
- comparing results and probabilities by discussing their findings with others to understand probabilities better.
Words include:
- agree, disagree
- anticipate
- certain, uncertain
- likely, unlikely
- list.
Resource#
Maths at home - Year 2 NZ Curriculum 