Comparison is one of the most crucial math skills second graders learn, because it can be applied to so many other disciplines across the elementary school curriculum. In this measurement and data lesson, kids will work on object comparison and graphing. The exercises ask kids to list objects in size order, estimate length, note differences in length, and make bar graphs.

Calculating the volume of rectangular prisms is a new skill that is introduced in 5th grade. Students will apply mathematical formulas to find the volume of different kinds of figures and also determine the volume of a figure composed of two connected rectangular prisms. Learners will also work with other kinds of measurement when they make larger or smaller versions of figures (to scale) and learn to convert measurements.

Representing data on graphs makes math visual and involves some creativity and design. Plotting data using fractional units takes their learning one step further. Also in this unit, students learn to measure using both traditional units (like inches, feet and yards) and metric units, and how to convert measurements within each system. The concept of measurement gets two dimensional when students explore measuring and working with angles.