Compare Groups Within 10
Students match and count objects to decide whether one group has more, fewer, or the same number as another group.
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Introduce Comparison Words
We can compare two groups of objects. Compare means to look at the groups and decide how their amounts are alike or different. A group has more when it has a greater number of objects. A group has fewer when it has a smaller number of objects. Two groups are equal when they have the same number of objects. Look at a group of 5 red apples and a group of 3 green apples. The red apple group has more apples. The green apple group has fewer apples. Now look at 4 stars and 4 circles. Both groups have 4 objects, so the groups are equal. When you compare, name both groups and use the words more, fewer, or equal.
Match Objects One to One
One-to-one matching helps us compare without counting first. Put one object from the first group with one object from the second group. Keep making pairs until every object in one group has a partner. Suppose there are 6 toy cars and 4 garages. Match one car to each garage. Four cars have garages, but 2 cars are left over. The car group has more objects because it has leftovers. The garage group has fewer objects. If every car had one garage and nothing was left over, the groups would be equal. Move objects into straight rows when you match them. This makes the pairs and leftovers easy to see. Remember that each object can have only one partner.
Compare by Counting
You can compare groups by counting each group. Touch or point to every object once as you say the counting numbers. Then tell how many are in each group. Suppose one plate has 7 crackers and another plate has 5 crackers. Count the first plate: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Count the second plate: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Seven is greater than five, so the first plate has more crackers. Five is less than seven, so the second plate has fewer crackers. If both plates had 7 crackers, their amounts would be equal. Arrange objects in rows if they are hard to count. Counting carefully helps you compare groups up to 10.
More, Fewer, or Equal Game
Play a comparison game with a partner. Place two sets of number cards from 0 to 10 face down. Each player turns over one card and builds a group with that many counters. Put the groups next to each other. Match the counters one to one or count both groups. Then say more, fewer, or equal. For example, Mia turns over 8 and builds a group of 8 counters. Jay turns over 6 and builds a group of 6 counters. Mia has more counters, and Jay has fewer counters. If both players turn over 4, the groups are equal. Check the answer together. Return the cards, mix them, and play again. Take turns saying a complete comparison sentence after every round.
Explain a Comparison
After you compare, explain how you know. Name both groups, tell their numbers, and use a comparison word. You might say, “There are 9 fish and 7 turtles. The fish group has more because 2 fish are left over after matching.” You can also explain by counting: “Nine is greater than seven, so there are more fish.” Then describe the other group: “The turtle group has fewer.” For equal groups, say, “There are 5 birds and 5 nests. The groups are equal because every bird matches one nest.” A clear explanation tells what you counted or matched. Point to the groups as you speak. Use the words more, fewer, equal, greater than, or less than to share your mathematical thinking.