Year 2 pattern-spotters count in more steps — 3s and 4s as well as 2s, 5s and 10s — all the way to 100. They double and halve numbers to 20 and complete patterns that go down as well as up.
What your child will learn
- Count in 2s, 5s and 10s to 100 from any multiple
- Count in 3s and 4s to 50
- Double numbers to 20 and halve even numbers to 40
- Complete number patterns that go up or down
Up or down?
First check the direction: are the numbers getting bigger or smaller? Then find the jump between two neighbours. In 40, 36, 32, 28 the numbers go down by 4 each time, so the next one is 24.
Patterns hide in the times tables
Counting in 5s gives 5, 10, 15, 20 — the answers to the 5 times table. Every counting pattern that starts at its own step is a times table in disguise, which is why skip-counting makes multiplication easier.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Count in 5s: 60, __, 70, 75, 80
Show answer
Answer: 65. Each number is 5 more than the one before, so the missing number is 65.
2. Count in 5s: 35, 40, 45, 50, __
- 45
- 54
- 59
- 55
Show answer
Answer: 55. Each number is 5 more than the one before, so the missing number is 55.
3. Count in 2s: 80, 82, 84, 86, __
- 78
- 89
- 87
- 88
Show answer
Answer: 88. Each number is 2 more than the one before, so the missing number is 88.
Tips for grown-ups
- Climb stairs counting in 3s, then come down counting back.
- Start a pattern for your child to finish, then let them set one for you.
- Double the numbers on a dice roll — then double them again.