This grade 2 skip counting lesson explains skip counting and comparing numbers in one printable page, with definitions, a method and a worked example.
Skip counting means counting forward by the same amount each time, such as by 5s, 10s, or 100s. To compare two three-digit numbers, look at the hundreds first, then the tens, then the ones. Use \(>\) for greater than, \(< \) for less than, and \(=\) for equal to, as in \(428 > 396\).
Grade 2 Skip Counting Lesson: key facts
- Skip counting adds the same number each time: by 5s, 10s, or 100s.
- Counting by 5s makes the ones digit 0 or 5.
- Counting by 100s raises the hundreds digit by 1 each time; ten hundreds make 1,000.
- To compare three-digit numbers, compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- The symbols are > (greater than), < (less than), and = (equal to).
What is skip counting?
Skip counting means counting by the same number again and again, instead of counting by ones. When you count by 5s, you say 5, 10, 15, 20, and so on. Every hop on the number line is the same size.
Skip counting adds the same number each time. When counting by 5s, the ones digit is 0 or 5. When counting by 10s, the tens digit goes up by 1. When counting by 100s, the hundreds digit goes up by 1.
How do you count by 10s?
Start at 5 and count by 10s: 5, 15, 25, 35, 45. The ones digit stays 5 and the tens digit grows by 1 each time. On a number chart, the numbers you say line up in one column.
How do you count by 5s with coins?
A nickel is worth 5 cents. To find the value of a group of nickels, count by 5s and touch each coin once. Six nickels are worth 30 cents.
How do you count by 100s?
When you count by 100s, the hundreds digit goes up by 1 and the tens and ones digits stay the same. Starting at 300, you say 300, 400, 500, 600, 700. After 900 comes 1,000.
How do you compare three-digit numbers?
Compare the digits one place at a time, starting on the left. The number with more hundreds is greater. If the hundreds are the same, compare the tens. If the tens are the same too, compare the ones.
- Line up the two numbers by place.
- Compare the hundreds digits. If they are different, you are done.
- If the hundreds are the same, compare the tens digits.
- If the tens are the same too, compare the ones digits.
Example: Compare 436 and 429. Both numbers have 4 hundreds. The tens are 3 and 2, and 3 is more than 2. So 436 is greater: \(436 > 429\).
What do the symbols >, <, and = mean?
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| \(>\) | is greater than | \(528 > 361\) |
| \(< \) | is less than | \(245 < 312\) |
| \(=\) | is equal to | \(407 = 407\) |
The open side of the symbol faces the bigger number. On a number line, the number farther to the right is the greater number.
Skip Counting and Comparing Numbers: frequently asked questions
What is skip counting?
Skip counting is counting forward by the same number each time, such as 5, 10, 15, 20. It is faster than counting by ones. Students use it to count nickels, dimes, and groups of 100.
How do you skip count by 5s?
Add 5 each time: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. The ones digit switches between 5 and 0. You can start at any number, like 135, 140, 145.
What is the difference between \(>\) and \(< \)?
Both symbols point their small end at the smaller number and open toward the greater number. The symbol \(>\) means greater than, so \(52 > 25\) is read as 52 is greater than 25. The symbol \(< \) means less than.
How do you compare numbers with the same hundreds digit?
Compare the tens digits next. If the tens are also the same, compare the ones. For 436 and 429, the hundreds are both 4, and 3 tens is more than 2 tens, so 436 is greater.
What number comes after 990 when counting by 10s?
The next number is 1,000. Ten more than 990 is 1,000, because 99 tens plus 1 more ten makes 100 tens, which is 1,000.
How to use this grade 2 skip counting lesson
Use this grade 2 skip counting lesson before the worksheet, then check what you learned with the quiz.
See every chapter on the Grade 2 math page.
