MA 1.11Comparing Numbers: Greater Than and Less Than

1. 1

   Lay rods 6 and 4 side by side, lined up at the red end. Ask: 'Which is longer?'

2. 2

   Count each rod. Say: 'Six is greater than four. Four is less than six.'

3. 3

   Lay seven counters in a row and seven more in a row below, matched one to one: 'Seven is equal to seven.'

4. 4

   Do the same with 5 and 8. Point to the counters left without a partner: 'Eight is greater than five.'

5. 5

   Three-period lesson with greater than, less than, and equal to.

6. 6

   Lay two numeral cards; the child builds each with counters, matches the rows, and says which number is greater.

7. 7

   Reading children place a word card between the two numeral cards and read the sentence: '8 is greater than 5'.

8. 8

   Later, the child compares two numeral cards without building them, then checks with counters.

What catches the child’s eye

• The counters left without a partner at the end of the longer row
• Two rods side by side, one sticking out past the other

Extensions, easiest to hardest

1. Order three or four numeral cards from least to greatest and check with the rods.
2. For older children: replace the word cards with > and <, reading each symbol aloud as words.
3. Compare two numbers from 11 to 19 with the Teen Board beads.