NCERT Revision Notes for Class 1 Maths Chapter 2: What is Long? What is Round? – Free PDF Download

Chapter 2 of Class 1 Joyful Mathematics, What is Long? What is Round?, is one of the earliest “measurement readiness” chapters in the NCERT book. Before children learn to measure with numbers and units, they need to be able to look at two or more objects and describe how they are different using simple words — long, short, thick, thin, round, and not round. This chapter builds that visual and language foundation through everyday objects the child already knows, like pencils, ropes, wheels, coins, and balls.

Key Concepts

Long objects: things that stretch out a lot in one direction, such as a pencil, a snake, a road, a ladder, or a river drawn in a picture.

Short objects: things that do not stretch very far in one direction when compared to a longer object, such as a small stick next to a long stick.

Comparing length: to say which of two things is longer or shorter, we place them side by side starting from the same point and look at which one reaches further.

Thick and thin: thickness describes how wide or narrow an object is around, like a rope (thick) compared to a thread (thin), or a fat book compared to a thin notebook.

Round objects: shapes that look like a circle or a ball all around, with no straight edges and no corners anywhere — a wheel, a coin, a bangle, a ball, or the full moon.

Objects that are not round: shapes that have straight sides, corners, or edges, such as a book, a box, a ruler, or a table top.

Near and far: position words that describe how close or distant one object is from another or from the child themselves.

Worked Examples

Example 1

Look at a football and a matchbox. Which one is round? The football is round because it curves evenly all around with no corners. The matchbox is not round because it has straight edges and corners.

Example 2

A red ribbon is stretched out and reaches from one end of the table to the other. A blue ribbon reaches only halfway. Which ribbon is longer? The red ribbon is longer because it covers more distance when both start from the same end.

Quick Recap

• Long things stretch out in one direction; short things cover less distance.
• Round things (like balls, wheels, coins) have no corners anywhere on their edge.
• Objects with straight sides and corners, like books and boxes, are not round.
• To compare length fairly, always start measuring both objects from the same point.
• Thick and thin describe how wide an object is, not how long it is.
• Play a quick sorting game at home: pick five objects and sort them into “long,” “round,” and “neither” groups.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Thinking “round” simply means “curved” — an oval or an egg shape is curved but not perfectly round the way a ball or coin is.
• Comparing two objects without lining up their starting points, which makes the comparison unfair and confusing.
• Mixing up “long” with “big” — a long pencil is not necessarily bigger in every way than a short, thick crayon.
• Assuming every round-looking object rolls the same way; a coin rolls differently from a ball because it is flat on two sides.
• Forgetting that an object can be both long and round at the same time, such as a rolling pin or a bamboo stick.

Home Practice Tips

• Go on a short “round hunt” around the house and list every round object the child can spot in five minutes.
• Compare kitchen items like a ladle handle and a spoon handle to decide which is longer.
• Use a piece of string to compare the length of two objects that cannot be placed side by side, like a doorway and a cupboard.
• Ask the child to draw one long object and one round object and label them.
• While on a walk, point out round things (manhole covers, tyres, clock faces) and non-round things (signboards, windows) together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How can a child practise “long vs round” at home?
Point to household objects together and ask whether each one is long, round, or neither — a pencil, a plate, a scarf, a ball — and talk about why.

Q2. Why does this chapter come before measurement chapters later in the book?
Sorting objects by shape and comparing lengths informally builds the vocabulary and observation skills needed before children measure things precisely with units such as handspans or centimetres.

Q3. Is every ball-shaped object called “round” in this chapter?
Yes, any object that curves evenly all around with no corners, like a ball, orange, or wheel, is described as round in this chapter, even though technically a ball is a sphere and a coin is a circle.

Q4. What is the easiest way to compare the length of two pencils?
Place both pencils flat on a table with their bottom ends touching the same edge, then look at which tip reaches further.

Q5. Can an object be thick and short at the same time?
Yes, thickness and length are different properties — a fat, short candle is thick but not long, while a thin knitting needle is long but not thick.

Full walkthrough: Chapter 2 Solutions · Extra Questions.

Written by Satish

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