NCERT Class 2 Maths (Joyful Mathematics) · Chapter 1

A Day at the Beach

Counting in tens and ones, making 100, comparing 2-digit numbers, and ordinal numbers (first, second, third).

📌 What you’ll learn in this chapter
  • Counting objects in groups of 10
  • Tens and ones: 34 = 3 tens and 4 ones
  • 10 tens make 100
  • Which number is more and which is less
  • First, second, third… and reading a calendar

🐚 Let’s Begin: Shells on the Beach

Meera collects shells at the beach. She counts 1, 2, 3 … and gets mixed up! Her brother says, “Put them in groups of 10.” Meera makes 3 groups of 10 and has 6 shells left over.

3 tens and 6 ones = 36 shells. Easy! 🐚

🔟 Part 1: Tens and Ones

TensOnesNumber
2525
4343
7070

58 = 50 + 8 = 5 tens and 8 ones.

💡 Remember 10 ones = 1 ten · 10 tens = 100 (one hundred)

⚖️ Part 2: More or Less

  • First look at the tens. 43 has 4 tens and 34 has 3 tens, so 43 is more.
  • If the tens are the same, look at the ones. 47 is more than 43.
⚠️ Common mistake Thinking 29 is more than 31 because 9 is big. ❌ Look at the tens first: 3 tens is more than 2 tens, so 31 is more.

🥇 Part 3: First, Second, Third

In a race: 1st = first, 2nd = second, 3rd = third, 4th = fourth, 5th = fifth…

✏️ Practice Time

Try these on your own first, then check your answer below each question.

Q1. 6 tens and 2 ones = ?
✅ Answer62
Q2. Which is more: 58 or 85?
✅ Answer85
Q3. How many tens in 90?
✅ Answer9

📘 NCERT Textbook Activity Help

Hints and answers for the activities in the textbook, page by page. Try each one yourself before looking at the answer!

Pages 1–2 · Beach picture

Count the objects

✅ AnswerCount coconuts, boats, children, and oranges in the picture. Counting in groups (2s, 5s, or 10s) is faster than counting one by one. For the shops, count the necklaces, then the full groups and loose balloons and bananas.
Page 3 · Tasty chikoos

Trays of ten

✅ AnswerThere are 10 chikoos in one tray.
A. 25 → 2 trays and 5 chikoos · B. 43 → 4 trays and 3 · C. 35 → 3 trays and 5 · D. 58 → 5 trays and 8
Things that come in packs of 10: pencils, candles, eggs (in some trays), and matchbox bundles.
Pages 4–6 · Blocks, strips, and 100

Tens and units

✅ Answer1 block stick = 10 blocks · 1 ten strip = 10 units
Table: 24 = 2 tens, 4 units · 36 = 3, 6 · 72 = 7, 2 · 69 = 6, 9 · 46 = 4, 6
Making 100: 70 + 30 = 100 (7 + 3 = 10 strips). Other combinations: 60 + 40, 50 + 50, 80 + 20, 90 + 10.
Pages 7–9 · Tens and ones cards

Complete the numbers

✅ Answer31 = 3 tens + 1 one. Count the ten-cards and one-cards in each picture. 93 = 9 tens + 3 ones · 75 = 7 tens + 5 ones · 29 = 2 tens + 9 ones.
43 oranges need 5 trays in all (4 full and 1 with 3 oranges).
Pages 10–12 · More or less

Comparing

✅ Answer27 is less than 72 (2 tens vs 7 tens). A. 67 is less than 76 · B. 53 is more than 35.
Sample answers: B. 40 is less than 41 · C. 70 · D. 45 · E. 30 · F. 1 · G. 30 · H. 50 is more than 20
Flash cards: greater than 50 → 57 · less than 30 → 25 · between 47 and 59 → 52 · smallest 2-digit → 10 · largest → 99. To make the largest number with two digits, put the bigger digit in the tens place: 53 > 35.
Page 13 · Who am I?

Number riddles

✅ AnswerA. 99 B. 98 C. 10 D. 11 E. 30 F. 92
Paths: start from the biggest number and go to the next smaller one each time (e.g. 91, 76, 53, 34, 23, 19, 14, 11).
Pages 14–15 · Vallam kali and calendar

Positions and dates

✅ AnswerThe finish line is on the left, so the boat nearest to it is first. The red boat is first. Count the next boats in order of how close they are to the finish line to find the 2nd, 3rd, and so on.
Calendar: Onam is on 29 August (Tuesday) · Independence Day is on 15 August · Raksha Bandhan is on the fifth Wednesday (30 August).

👨‍👩‍👧 Tips for Parents

  • Bundle 10 ice-cream sticks with a rubber band to show tens.
  • Ask: “Which is more, 46 or 64?”
  • Talk about 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in queues and races.
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