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Year 2

Read and write numbers to at least 100 in numerals and in words

Read number words and numerals to 100, then match and write them accurately.

Lesson overview

Number - number and place value

A numeral is written with digits, such as 47. A number word is written with letters, such as forty-seven. In Year 2 we keep building this number-word thread so that reading and writing numbers becomes secure as the numbers grow.

Worked example

What is the numeral for seventy-two?

  1. Read the tens word first: seventy means 7 tens.
  2. Read the ones word next: two means 2 ones.
  3. 7 tens and 2 ones make 72.
  4. So the numeral for seventy-two is 72.
seventy-two72

Try it

Read each number word or numeral, then give the matching answer.

Question 1

Write the numeral for thirty-six.

Question 2

Which word matches the numeral 48?

Question 3

Which numeral matches the word ninety?

Question 4

Write the numeral for one hundred.

Question 5

Which word matches the numeral 57?

Common mistakes

Watch for these when you read and write number words.

  • Mixing up words such as fourteen and forty.
  • Forgetting that a tens word such as sixty means a full group of tens.
  • Reading only part of the word and writing the wrong numeral.

Related topics

These ideas fit closely with reading and writing numbers to 100.

  • Recognise the place value of each digit in a two-digit number.
  • Compare and order numbers from 0 up to 100; use <, > and = signs.
  • Use place value and number facts to solve problems.

Practice next

Keep practising this idea

Review numeral and number-word language, then check your recall.

Open related NotesTry a Year 2 check