Lesson 83: Comparing numbers (more/less)

🧮 MATH (40 Lessons) • 🟢 A. Numbers and Counting

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Objective

I can compare two numbers up to 100 and tell which is more, which is less, or if they are equal, using the symbols <, >, and =.

Materials

Mini-lesson — Comparing numbers (more and less)

When we compare two numbers, we look at which one is bigger and which one is smaller. The bigger number has more, and the smaller number has less.

More and less with objects

  • We can look at two groups of objects and count them.
  • If one group has more objects, it has a bigger number.
  • If one group has less objects, it has a smaller number.
  • If both groups have the same amount, the numbers are equal.

Using symbols < and >

  • We use < to mean "is less than".
  • We use > to mean "is greater than" (is more than).
  • The small, pointy side points to the smaller number.
  • The wide, open side faces the bigger number.

Reading the symbols

  • 4 < 6 means “4 is less than 6”.
  • 9 > 7 means “9 is greater than 7”.

First, count each group. Then use the words more, less, and equal and the symbols < and > to show your answer.

Picture strip: Using < and > to compare

Which group has more?

We can write this as 4 < 6.

Reading the symbols

< points to the smaller number.

> points to the bigger number.

Guided Practice — Grab & Compare

Use real classroom objects such as pencils, crayons, counters, cubes, or erasers. You will grab, count, and compare amounts.

  1. Grab a handful: Take a small handful of objects.
  2. Your partner grabs too: They take a handful.
  3. Count your amounts: Say your numbers out loud.
  4. Compare: Point to the group with more and the group with less.
  5. Say it: Speak a sentence, such as "7 is more than 5" or "4 is less than 6".
  6. Check for equal: If you both have the same number, say "They are equal!".
Tracing Pad
Tracing snapshot for print
Tip: After tracing a word like more or less, write one short sentence to match your objects.

Practice 1 — Drag & Drop: Build the comparison

For each row, drag the two numbers and the correct symbol into the three boxes to make a true number sentence. Put them in this order: number – symbol – number.

1) Use 3, 8 and the correct symbol.

8 < 3

2) Use 14, 9 and the correct symbol.

> 9 14

3) Use 20, 20 and the correct symbol.

20 = 20

4) Use 37, 45 and the correct symbol.

45 < 37

5) Use 52, 49 and the correct symbol.

49 52 >

6) Use 60, 70 and the correct symbol.

60 < 70

7) Use 81, 81 and the correct symbol.

= 81 81

8) Use 35, 30 and the correct symbol.

35 30 >

9) Use 19, 25 and the correct symbol.

< 25 19

10) Use 90, 100 and the correct symbol.

100 90 <

Practice 2 — Number line comparisons

On each number line, compare the numbers. Tap the correct answer.

1) Which is greater: 4 or 9?

Tap the correct number.

2) Which is less: 2 or 6?

Tap the correct number.

3) Which is greater: 7 or 3?

Tap the correct number.

4) Which is less: 10 or 15?

Tap the correct number.

5) Which is greater: 12 or 19?

Tap the correct number.

6) Which is less: 8 or 1?

Tap the correct number.

7) Which is greater: 0 or 5?

Tap the correct number.

8) Which is less: 16 or 9?

Tap the correct number.

9) Which is greater: 18 or 11?

Tap the correct number.

10) Which number is equal to 14?

Tap the correct number.

Practice 3 — Sliders: Move to the correct number

Read the clue. Move the slider until the current number matches the correct answer.

1) Greater than 15

Move the slider to 18, a number that is greater than 15.

Current: 0

2) Less than 12

Move the slider to 9, a number that is less than 12.

Current: 0

3) Make 25 > 18 true

Move the slider to 25. Then read the sentence: 25 > 18.

Current: 0

4) Make 40 < 50 true

Move the slider to 40. Then read: 40 < 50.

Current: 0

5) Equal to 30

Move the slider so it shows 30. Then read: 30 = 30.

Current: 0

6) Greater number: 59 or 63?

Move the slider to 63, the greater number.

Current: 0

7) Smaller number: 71 or 80?

Move the slider to 71, the smaller number.

Current: 0

8) Between 40 and 50

Move the slider to 45, a number between 40 and 50.

Current: 0

9) Greater than 90

Move the slider to 94, a number greater than 90.

Current: 0

10) Just before 100

Move the slider to 99, the number just before 100.

Current: 0

Quick Check (15 questions)

1) Which is greater?

2) Which symbol makes this true: 24 __ 24 ?

3) Choose the true sentence.

4) Which is greater, 32 or 47?

5) 42 __ 50

6) Which comparison is true?

7) 65 __ 65

8) On the number line, which side has the smaller numbers?

9) Which sentence is true?

10) Which is less?

11) Choose the true comparison.

12) Which is greater?

13) When two numbers are the same, which symbol do we use?

14) Which sentence is true?

15) On a 100 chart, numbers in the rows down are usually…

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

Today I will practise…

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