Usually age 7–8

Grade 2 in BC: what your child learns and what's open to them

18 contests and programs open to grade 2 students in British Columbia. You don't need to do all of them. Pick the ones that match what your child enjoys.

BC curriculum

What your child learns in Grade 2

A plain-language summary of the official BC curriculum for grade 2 math and English language arts.

Math

  • Counting, comparing and ordering numbers to 100, skip-counting by 2s, 5s and 10s forward and backward, and learning even and odd numbers.
  • Understanding place value: the 4 in 49 means 40, and two-digit numbers can be split into tens and ones.
  • Building fluency with addition and subtraction facts to 20, using strategies like making 10 and doubles.
  • Adding and subtracting numbers to 100 with flexible strategies, like 48 + 37 as 40 + 30 and 8 + 7, and estimating answers.
  • Making and continuing repeating patterns and growing patterns, and using symbols to show equal and not equal.
  • Measuring length in centimetres and metres, and sorting and building 2D shapes and 3D objects by two features.
  • Making picture graphs, using words like certain and more likely, and counting mixed coins up to 100 cents while talking about spending and saving.

Reading, writing and speaking

  • Talking about character, plot, setting, dialogue and the beginning, middle and end of stories.
  • Noticing text features like bold words, headings, tables of contents and diagrams.
  • Using reading strategies such as predicting, rereading, retelling, finding the main idea, and sounding out words using word patterns and word families.
  • Printing clearly with spaces, writing compound sentences (two ideas joined with and, but or so), and using capitals and end punctuation.
  • Starting to revise and edit their writing with the reader in mind.
  • Asking questions to clarify, sharing opinions, and speaking with expression.

Easy ways to help at home

  • Keep reading aloud together, even when your child can read alone. Ask who their favourite character was and why.
  • Count by 10s or 5s on car rides or walks.
  • Play simple card games like Go Fish with "make 10" pairs, or War with addition.
  • Use a ruler or tape measure together and guess first: is the table more or less than a metre long?
  • Let your child help count coins in a jar and decide what they might save for.

little and often beats long and hard

What do Emerging, Developing, Proficient and Extending mean on the report card?
Emerging
Your child is beginning to understand something in an area of learning. They are still learning but may need more support to move ahead. Emerging doesn't mean your child is unsuccessful in this area.
Developing
Your child understands some things in an area of learning but still has other areas to work on. Like Emerging, it doesn't mean your child is unsuccessful in this area.
Proficient
Proficient is the goal for your child, and for all students. It means they fully understand the required learning. It doesn't mean their learning stops.
Extending
Your child shows a deeper understanding and can apply their learning in new and different ways. Extending is not the goal for all students in every area of learning.

Source: BC Ministry of Education and Child Care: K-12 Student Reporting, Information for Parents and Caregivers

Sources: BC Curriculum: Mathematics Grade 2 · BC Curriculum: English Language Arts Grade 2

Math

Math

Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest

A fun, international multiple-choice math contest from Grade 1. Parents register directly, and the contest is written on a Sunday in March.

Grades 1–12$20 last year if registered by…

Coding

Coding

FIRST LEGO League (Explore and Challenge) in BC

Team LEGO robotics for ages 6–14. Teams must register with FIRST by October 31, 2026 to compete at BC qualifiers in January.

Grades 1–8Paid per team

Science

Science

UBC Geering Up Saturday Clubs

Saturday morning science and engineering clubs at UBC for Grades 1–12, run in fall and winter sessions. Bursaries of up to 90% are available.

Grades 1–12$350 per session for elementary…

Language & reading

Language & reading

Spelling Bee of Canada

A national spelling bee for ages 6 to 14 with a British Columbia & Vancouver chapter. Registration for the 2027 program opens October 16, 2026.

Grades 1–9Fee for 2027 not posted yetLanguage & reading

BC Summer Reading Club

A free summer reading program at BC public libraries. Kids track their reading, collect stickers and earn a medal. Runs from about mid-June to August.

K–Grade 8Free

Arts, music & chess

Arts, music & chess

Royal Conservatory of Music Certificate Program Exams

Graded music and theory exams used across Canada. For the January 2027 practical exams, register by November 3, 2026.

K–Grade 12Fees depend on the subject and…Arts, music & chess

Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival

Metro Vancouver's large music competition festival, with feedback from adjudicators. Solo registration runs November 2, 2026 to January 18, 2027.

K–Grade 12Entry fees vary by classArts, music & chess

BC Youth Chess Championship and Canadian Youth Chess Championship

Rated chess tournaments for players under 18. Score 50% at a qualifier, such as the BC Youth Chess Championship, to play at the national CYCC each July.

K–Grade 12Varies by tournament

Camps & enrichment

Camps & enrichment

UBC Geering Up summer STEM camps

Week-long science, engineering and coding day camps run by UBC for kids entering Grades 1–12. Registration opened on February 18 in 2026.

K–Grade 11$410–$490 a week for elementary…Camps & enrichment

Science World spring and summer science camps

Hands-on science day camps at Science World for spring break and summer. Members can book first, and spots sell out quickly.

K–Grade 8About $550 for a 5-day camp in…Camps & enrichment

Vancouver community centre summer day camps

Recreation day camps at Vancouver community centres. Since 2026, summer camps open on one city-wide registration day in April.

K–Grade 7Varies by community centre and…Camps & enrichment

City of Burnaby summer camps

City-run summer camps in Burnaby. Residents get early registration in March, a few days before everyone else.

K–Grade 7Varies by camp

School programs

School programs

Independent (private) school admissions in Metro Vancouver

Most Metro Vancouver independent schools take applications in the fall for the next September. For 2027 entry, many deadlines fall between October 29 and December 3, 2026.

K–Grade 11Application fees were $50–$350…School programs

Burnaby French Immersion (Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 6)

Early French Immersion starts in Kindergarten or Grade 1; Late French Immersion starts in Grade 6. Applications are in February, with a lottery in early March.

K–Grade 5Free to applySchool programs

Richmond kindergarten registration and French Immersion

Kindergarten registration and the French Immersion and Montessori application open November 1. Last year both closed in mid-January, with results in early February.

K–Grade 5Free to register and applySchool programs

North Vancouver kindergarten registration and French Immersion

Priority kindergarten registration for September 2027 runs October 15 to December 15, 2026. You choose English or French Immersion in the same online form.

K–Grade 5Free to registerSchool programs

Surrey kindergarten registration and French Immersion lottery

Kindergarten registration opens in January. Early French Immersion and other choice programs use an online lottery in February, with results before Spring Break.

K–Grade 5Free to register and applySchool programs

Coquitlam kindergarten registration and French Immersion

Apply for French Immersion, Montessori or Mandarin Bilingual from January 7 to 13, 2027. Kindergarten registration at your catchment school is February 1–4, 2027.

K–Grade 5Free to apply

Plan ahead: what starts in later grades

Nothing to do yet. It just helps to know these are coming.

Guides for grade 2 parents

Put every deadline in your calendar

One step, no account. Each deadline comes with a reminder a week before, and the calendar updates itself when dates change.

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