Measurement and US Money | Length, Coins, Bills & Making Change | Grade 2

Measurement and US Money is a math unit for Grade 2: a 33-page classroom material set and a 13-page teacher guide. It covers two topics in ten lessons, length and money. Students estimate, measure and explain. They measure in inches and centimeters and work with US dollars and cents. The unit ends with a classroom store where students buy, pay and make change.

The length lessons start with an idea that is easy to skip: measuring means laying equal units end to end with no gaps. Only then do students use a ruler and learn to start at zero. In Lesson 3 they measure the same object in inches and in centimeters and see that the same length gives two different numbers. Lesson 4 combines estimating with measuring and comparing. The money lessons begin with coin values. Students count mixed sets of coins, then write amounts in dollars and cents, count bills and find totals. Lesson 9 is about price and change. In Lesson 10 the classroom store pulls it all together. Explaining is part of every lesson. When students compare two measurements of the same length or show an amount two ways, they back their answer with numbers and words. A learning record at the end lets students see what they have done.

What's Included

• Classroom Material: 33 pages (PDF)
• Teacher Guide: 13 pages (PDF)
• 46 pages in total
• Editable DOCX text version (pagination may differ)
• Editable PowerPoint presentation (PPTX, editable text)
• Print-ready A4 PDF that prints on US Letter with fit-to-page

The 10 Lessons

• Length (Lessons 1–4). Equal units; Start at zero; Inches and centimeters; Estimate and compare.
• Money (Lessons 5–9). Coin values; Count mixed coins; Dollars and cents; Bills and totals; Price and change.
• Apply (Lesson 10). Classroom store.
• Also included. An opening page on the learning routine and a student learning record.

Students Will Learn To

• Measure length with equal units and a ruler that starts at zero
• Measure an object in inches and in centimeters and explain why the numbers differ
• Estimate lengths, then measure and compare
• Name coin values and count mixed coins and bills
• Write amounts with dollars and cents and work out change from a price

Perfect For

• Grade 2 measurement and money units
• Math centers or small groups with rulers and play money
• Grade 3 review of money and length
• International schools that teach with US units and currency
• Homeschool math with real coins and household objects
• UK and Australia: roughly maps to Year 3 in England and Year 2 in Australia (note that the money is US currency)

Why Teachers Choose This Unit

• Each lesson has its own page of answers and teaching decisions.
• The guide sets out the teaching concept and planning for the whole unit.
• An observation and responsive support section helps you decide what to do when a student is stuck.
• Measurement starts with equal units before rulers, a step many units skip.
• Sources and production notes are listed at the end of the guide.

Created with AI assistance. Texts and illustrations were generated with AI support and edited for classroom use; sources and production notes are at the end of the teacher guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What grade and standards does this fit?

It is written for Grade 2. The unit sits closest to Common Core 2.MD.A.1 to 2.MD.A.4 (measure, estimate and compare lengths, including in two units) for length and 2.MD.C.8 (word problems with dollar bills and coins) for money. No alignment or endorsement is claimed.

What materials do I need?

Rulers marked in inches and centimeters, small objects to measure and items to use as equal units. For the money lessons, real or play coins and bills help. The classroom store works with simple classroom items as goods.

Can I use only the money part?

Yes. The two topics are in separate lessons, so you can teach Lessons 5 to 10 on their own. Lesson 10, the classroom store, uses the money skills only.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. The teacher guide has answers and teaching decisions for each of the ten lessons, plus notes on observation and responsive support.