Comparing Numbers in Kindergarten FREE PRINTABLE

​Comparison of Numbers 

We’ve all been there strategizing how to begin developing great number sense within our children. Math skills don’t always come easy to all students, but having a plan to teach these essential skills can make learning a bit easier. Today I want to share different ways to practice comparison of numbers, provide a free educational materials, and helpful independent work.

The comparing numbers bundle includes practice comparing numbers pages, one hundreds chart, and a blank number line. The entire bundle is FREE to you.

The bundle isn’t geared to just kindergarten, and could be used in 1st grade math or 2nd grade math. You can follow Ranch House Learning for more freebies, educational content, and resources! Keep reading for more ideas on comparison games to play alongside your child! 

It wasn’t too long ago that I was a public school teacher spending my conference period scrolling google for free educational materials that focused on essential skills. What I usually found was most of the kindergarten worksheets didn’t have great visual aids to help my students complete the interactive worksheets independently. A fun worksheet was easy to find, but I was looking for something with more depth. 

I found myself for years creating my own worksheets for students to complete in google classroom, and I would share those with my grade level. Fast forward a few years, now I’m creating educational materials that I know teachers and moms are looking for when teaching their students.

My hope is that my products will help supplement learning that is already occurring, and give students a great opportunity for more independent practice. From my previous experience, it’s evident how hard it can be to find free printable worksheets, so I want to provide a free comparing numbers bundle for you today! 

What is Number Sense? 

A great way to begin thinking about numbers is through developing your child’s number sense. A quick google search will tell you that number sense is, a person’s ability to understand, relate, and connect numbers.

A fun way to begin developing number sense is through counting the number of objects, placing numbers on a number line, number games, board games, and more. Over time you’ll probably use different ways to interact with numbers depending on how your child develops in their math skills.

We know that we don’t use numbers just in math class, but numbers are all around us in the world. Our job is to help our children understand, relate, and connect with numbers in their everyday lives. Once children begin to make sense of number it will be easier for students to think about numbers within equations that need to be solved. 

THREE QUICK TIPS

1. Have your child count the canned goods you place in the buggy at the grocery store. 

2. When cooking invite your child into the kitchen to help measure ingredients while you cook.

3. Simple conversation that include asking about numbers “hey how many birds do you see on the branch?

How to Teach Comparison Skills?

Okay, we understand that number sense is important. Now how are we actually going to work on comparing numbers? Where should I begin with my child? 

One of the best ways that I’ve taught comparison skills is playing number games with my children. My former kindergarten students LOVED to play games, and eventually would make their own games up based on games we played together in my classroom. 

A fun comparison skills game is a low risk way to engage your child while building their number sense. Think about things you already have laying around your house, and use those objects to make your own games. These objects don’t need to be fancy, and shouldn’t be costing you any extra money! 

To begin playing this comparison game begin by rounding up some jelly beans, large bowl, a pencil, and a stack of sticky notes. I recommend using Starburst jelly beans, because they are simply the best. Follow the directions below to play at home with your child. 

How to Play  

1. Pour the jelly beans out into a large bowl. 

2. Ask your child to sort the jelly beans into groups based on color.

3. After the jelly beans are sorted count the jelly beans in each group.

4. Now use a sticky note to record the number of jelly beans in each of the groups.

Now that you have your jelly beans sorted, and number of jelly beans in each group recorded you can begin ordering the sticky notes from the smallest number to the largest number using a blank number line. I’ve included a blank number line in my FREE comparison of numbers bundle. Already you’ve covered sorting, counting, comparing, recording, and sequencing. 

For the second game I want to share, you’ll need those same jelly beans, a set of dice (you can also find a digital version online), pencil, and paper. Begin by letting your child explore the dice, and explain ways that dice are normally used, and count the dots on all sides. During this game you’ll roll the dice to assign you a given number one through six. Next, count out the number of jelly beans for the number that you rolled on the dice, and write the number down on a sticky note.

Disclaimer, if you or your child has a food allergy to jelly beans, please know that you can use a different objects for this activity. 

First, you’ll roll the first dice, count the number on the side it lands on, count out that amount of jelly beans onto a piece of paper, and record the number under it. Repeat this exact step with the second dice, but make sure to leave out the jelly beans from the first roll on the piece of paper. Once you have two groups of jelly beans and two numbers you can begin comparing the numbers with your child.

Ask your child to look at the two groups, and explain what they notice about the groups. Allow them to tell you everything that they notice on their own before you begin asking questions, or prompting ideas. 

After your child has had their moment you can begin leading your child’s thinking through a series of strong questioning, and have your child narrate about their own learning. Try your best to use comparison symbols vocabulary to build the foundation for future learning.

Example, “which group of has the least amount of jelly beans, and which has the greater amount?” Using this vocabulary early will lead to less confusion as this skill progresses into 5th grade math and 6th grade math. 

Prompting Questioning

1. What do you notice about the two groups? 

2. How do you know which group has less jelly beans? 

3. Which group has the greater number of jelly beans? 

Comparison Symbols Vocabulary 

Once you feel that your child understands the concept of comparing numbers, you’ll be ready to introduce comparison symbols. I’ve found it helpful to begin practicing comparison symbols even with kindergarten students, in order to build a strong foundation moving forward in the kindergarten math curriculum. 

When I was younger I was taught that you could think of the less-than and greater-than symbol as alligator mouths. When comparing numbers you can remind students that an alligator will always want to eat the greater number. If you have a child that needs a visual aid you can even draw triangles onto the symbol to symbolize alligator teeth eating the larger number. 

Example. If I have six cars and two trucks, which of these numbers is greater? Six cars is greater than two trucks. My equation would read  6 > 2. Six cars is greater than two trucks, so my alligator mouth (greater-than symbol) would be facing the number six. 

Encourage your student to read the written equation aloud to you once they have finished. Reading the equation aloud will build their own vocabulary, and reinforce their learning. 

If you have a child that needs a more hands on approach I would suggest finding two stick like objects that are the same in length. You could use a set of unsharpened pencils, chopsticks, markers, sticks, or even straws. These stick like objects will be used to build their own comparison symbols.

Comparing Numbers Bundle 

Below you can download the free printable comparing numbers worksheets. This bundle focuses on comparison of numbers, mathematical symbols, comparison symbols, and differences between smaller numbers compared to larger numbers. This is a fun way to help with reasoning skills, ordering numbers, and thinking about numbers in different ways. 

The comparing numbers bundle is pdf worksheets that you can download to your computer, and simply print at your home. For best results make sure you have the latest version of google chrome, or your preferred internet browser. Note that these practice pages are meant for classroom use, homeschool settings, and shouldn’t be sold. 

Happy Learning! Please follow Ranch House Learning on instagram for more FREEBIES!