Chapter 5 · NCERT Class 2 Joyful Mathematics

Playing with Lines

Some lines are straight like a ruler, some curve like a snake. Some lines join up and some stay open. We can even find out which line is longer! Tap each idea to play.

🔷 3 topics⏱ ~15 min📝 7-question quiz

Play with it

Six line ideas

Straight, curved, open, closed — and which is longer. Tap each word to see a simple example.

Explore · Linestap a word

Learn

The three big ideas

A straight line goes from one point to another without bending — like the edge of a ruler.
A curved line bends and turns — like a snake, a rainbow or the letter S.
We use straight lines to draw squares and triangles, and curved lines to draw circles.

Let's try. Is the letter "L" made of straight or curved lines?

The letter L is made of two straight lines.

A closed line joins back to where it started, with no gap — like a circle or a triangle.
An open line has two loose ends and does not join up — like the letter C or a road.
A closed figure has an inside and an outside.

Let's try. Is a square open or closed?

A square is closed — all four sides join up, leaving no gap.

We can compare two things to see which is longer and which is shorter.
To measure, lay the same unit end to end — handspans, footsteps, cubes or a string.
Always use the same unit, or the measure will not be fair.

Let's try. A ribbon is 6 cubes long and a pencil is 4 cubes long. Which is longer?

6 cubes is more than 4 cubes, so the ribbon is longer.

Watch out: when you measure, the units must be laid end to end with no gaps and no overlaps.

Where you’ll meet it

Lines around you

Roads & railway tracks

Straight roads and curving lanes are lines we travel on every day.

Skipping rope

A skipping rope can be a curved line; lay it straight to measure how long it is.

Tailor's tape

A tailor measures cloth with a tape — the same unit end to end gives a fair length.