13 Compare Numbers

The Year 1 Less than, Greater than, Equal to PowerPoint guides both teachers and children through the lesson, including use of the varied fluency, reasoning and problem solving, practical activities and continuous provision resources. Key learning information about this step:

Key Vocabulary

greater than: Greater than means a bigger number. We use the symbol > .

less than: Less than means a smaller number. We use the symbol < .

equal to: Equal to means the same number in each group. We use the symbol = .

compare: When we compare, we look at two numbers to see which one is greater.

Adult-Led Practical Activities

• Activity 1: make the inequality symbol, use card

• Activity 2: roll dice to create cube towers, insert correct inequality symbol

You will need:

• number cards, plastic numbers or wooden discs, some card

• dice and stacking blocks/cubes

Why not try…

• using a sock puppet to ‘eat’ the greatest number

• using number discs or number cards, turn over and put the correct inequality symbol in

• using pots with shells or other small objects, count out and insert the inequality correct symbol

Varied Fluency

• Q1: complete the box and choose the appropriate symbol

• Q2: draw lines to match the correct phrase to each statement

Reasoning and Problem Solving

• Q1: Reasoning – explaining which statement is incorrect

• Q2: Problem Solving –finding different ways to make the sentences correct through choice of cards

Continuous Provision

• Small World area – compare numbers in car parking spaces

• Small World area – compare how many ‘people’ are standing at the bus stops on a town mat

• Role Play area – compare prices of labelled toys in a toy shop

• Creative area – create creative crocodiles or monster symbols and use them to compare numbers

• Water area – scoop out various items to compare amounts

• Outdoor area – create a chalk scoreboard and compare scores

• Maths area – use different representations and compare

• Reading area – book recommendations