Math Expressions Grade 2, Unit 5: Time, Graphs, and Word Problems
In this unit, your child tells time, reads graphs, and solves word problems. They read clocks with hands and digital clocks to the nearest five minutes, use a.m. and p.m., make picture and bar graphs, and solve one- and two-step story problems. It builds on two-digit subtraction and leads into adding and subtracting three-digit numbers.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Unit 5?
- Telling time to the nearest five minutes on clocks with hands and on digital clocks, and saying whether it is a.m. or p.m. Learn more: Telling time to the nearest five minutes
- Making picture graphs and bar graphs and using them to answer 'how many in all' and 'how many more' questions. Learn more: Making and reading picture graphs and bar graphs
- Solving two-step word problems, such as some leaving and then more arriving, and writing an equation for each step. Learn more: One- and two-step story problems within 100
Sample questions to try together
These are real questions from our practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
The hour hand is on the 8 and the minute hand is on the 12. What is the time?
- 12:40
- 8:00
- 8:12
How you can help
- Ask your child to tell you the time on a clock with hands a few times a day, counting by 5s from the 12 to find the minutes.
- Count the colors of cars you pass on a walk or ride, using up to four colors. Make a bar graph together and ask how many more were red than blue.
- Tell a two-step story at the park: '12 ducks are on a pond. 5 swim away, then 8 more land. How many are there now?'
Where kids can get stuck
- Reading the number the minute hand points to as the minutes, saying 3:04 instead of 3:20.
- Answering 'how many more' with the total of two bars instead of the difference between them.
- Losing track of what each number stands for, then using the wrong amount in the second step.
Practice makes perfect
Bobby's Math Club has practice problems that adapt to your child’s level, each with a detailed explanation and an easy-to-follow video, so your child can build confidence in these skills one step at a time.
Words your child will hear
- minute hand
- The long hand on a clock. It shows the minutes.
- hour hand
- The short hand on a clock. It points to the hour.
- a.m.
- The hours from midnight until noon, like 7:00 a.m. for breakfast.
- p.m.
- The hours from noon until midnight, like 6:00 p.m. for dinner.
- picture graph
- A graph that uses small pictures to show how many are in each group.
- bar graph
- A graph that uses bars of different lengths to show and compare amounts.
- category
- One group on a graph, such as apples on a graph of favorite fruits.
Want to help your child master time, graphs, and word problems?
In Bobby's Math Club, your child practices these skills at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free.
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Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Which math standards does Math Expressions Grade 2 Unit 5 cover?
Math Expressions Grade 2 Unit 5 covers these math standards. Each one links to what it means, sample questions, and teaching strategies.
For teachers: Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence. Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow.