1. Teaching Resources
  3. 2nd Grade

Reading & Writing Numbers up to 1000

Understanding how to write numbers in their various forms is a second grade, Common Core math skill: 2.NBT.3. Below we show two videos that demonstrate this standard. Then, we provide a breakdown of the specific steps in the videos to help you teach your class.

Prior Learnings

Your students should be familiar with the first grade skill of counting up to 120 starting from any number below 120 (1.NBT.1), this skill helps them understand greater or less than values. The second grade skill is also closely linked to the first grade skill of understanding place values (ones and tens) in two-digit numbers (1.NBT.2).

Future Learnings

Comparing large numbers as greater than, less than, and equal to will help your students understand future concepts in third grade. In third grade, your students will learn how to interpret the products of whole numbers (i.e. 8 x 3 is the same as 8 groups of 3 objects each) (3.OA.1). They will also learn to use multiplication and division within 100 while solving word problems in situations that involve “equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities” (3.OA.3).

Common Core Standard: 2.NBT.3 - Read and write numbers to 1000 using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form

Students who understand this principle can:

  1. Explain the difference between standard form and expanded form. 
  2. Write numbers using words.
  3. Read and write numbers up to 1,000 using base-ten numerals (digit form–534).
  4. Read and write numbers up to 1,000 using number names (five hundred thirty-four).
  5. Read and write numbers using expanded form (500 + 30 + 4) and decompose them.
  6. Record number decompositions in various ways (534 as 530 + 4; 499 + 35; 500 + 34; or 520 + 14).

2 Videos to Help You Teach Common Core Standard: 2.NBT.3

Below we provide and breakdown two videos to help you teach your students this standard.

Video 1: Numbers: Standard, Written, & Expanded Form

This video teaches students the difference between standard (digit), written, and expanded form of numbers.

Using the number 987, the video shows students how to write the number in written and expanded form. First, it explains that the digit form is known as standard form.

‍Written Form:

  1. Written with words.
  2. Read the number aloud and write what you say.
  3. 987 = nine hundred eighty-seven.
  4. Do not use the word “and” when writing out numbers as it is technically incorrect.

‍Expanded Form:

  1. Shows value of each number in the different places (identifies place value).
  2. 9 in the hundreds place–900
  3. 8 in the tens place–80
  4. 7 in the ones place–7
  5. Therefore the expanded form is 900 + 80 + 7

‍Video 2: Numbers as Digits and Words

The video introduces the topic and then moves straight into practice problems. First, Boddle reviews how to write the given number using digits.

  1. Thirty-five is written as 35 in digits
  2. Ninety-two is written as 92 in digits.
  3. Eighteen is written as 18 in digits.
  4. Seventy-one is written as 71 in digits.
  5. Fifty is written as 50 in digits.

Next, Boddle flips the problem around and goes over how to write the given number in word form.

  1. 83 is written as eighty-three.
  2. 12 is written as twelve.
  3. 36 is written as thirty-six.
  4. 57 is written as fifty-seven.
  5. 48 is written as forty-eight.

Now that your students understand the basic idea, we can move onto bigger numbers. Boddle has students match the digit form of large numbers with their word form counterpart.

  1. 271 is the same as “two hundred seventy-one.”
  2. 503 is the same as “five hundred thee.”
  3. 165 is the same as “one hundred sixty-five.”
  4. 819 is the same as “eight hundred nineteen.”
  5. 324 is the same as “three hundred twenty-four.”

That’s the end! Your students did a great job!

‍Want more practice?

Give your students additional standards-aligned practice with Boddle Learning. Boddle includes questions related to Comparing and Measuring Lengths plus rewarding coins and games for your students to keep them engaged. Click here to sign up for Boddle Learning and create your first assignment today.

*Information on standards is gathered from The New Mexico Public Education Department's New Mexico Instructional Scope for Mathematics and the Common Core website.

Select your device