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🧸 British maths, age 5 · session 2 of 26 · 45 minutes · free

Comparing: more, fewer and the same

Which group has more? Which has fewer? Are they the same? Match things one to one, then compare the numbers.

🎯 Practice mode🖨 Print a worksheet

A complete lesson · 45 minutes

Teach it, see it, practise it, all on this page.

Open this page with your learner and work down it, or press Teach this lesson to go through it one step at a time on a big screen. Every section has something to do.

See the teacher's plan
  1. Warm-up4 min
  2. More and fewer8 min
  3. Equal8 min
  4. Order7 min
  5. Activity 15 min
  6. Activity 25 min
  7. Activity 34 min
  8. Picture quiz3 min
  9. Home activity1 min

By the end you can

  • Say which group has more or fewer
  • Know when two groups are equal
  • Put three numbers in order

Before you start

  • Counting objects to 10

Have ready

  • Two small bowls
  • 10 counters or buttons

Age 5 · Reception and Year 1 (UKG)

Warm-up · think first

I have 3 sweets and you have 5. Who has more?

Show the answer

You do: 5 is more than 3. Line them up side by side to see the extra 2.

Teacher tip: Use real sweets or counters and line them up.

More warm-ups for every class →

Part 1 of 3 · learn, see, practise

More and fewer

Line two groups up side by side. The group with things left over has more.

The bigger number means more. The smaller number means fewer.

Example 1

🍎🍎🍎 or 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎: which has more?

  1. Count: 3 and 5.
  2. 5 is bigger than 3.

Answer: The group of 5

Example 2

4 cats and 3 dogs: are there more cats or dogs?

  1. Match each dog to a cat.
  2. One cat is left over.

Answer: More cats

Show the number

Tap boxes to put counters in the frame.

  1. Show 8 counters.
  2. Show a number more than 5 and fewer than 7.
  3. Show 9 counters.

Practise it

Start with the warm-up and go as far as you can. The stretch questions are meant to be hard.

Warm-up

Warm-up

Core

Core

Stretch 🔥

Answers (for the teacher)
  1. 6
  2. 2
  3. cats
  4. 9
  5. 2

Part 2 of 3 · learn, see, practise

The same (equal)

Two groups are equal when every thing has a partner and none are left over.

Equal groups have the same number.

Example 1

3 cups and 3 saucers: are they equal?

  1. Put each cup on a saucer.
  2. None are left over.

Answer: Yes, they are equal

Example 2

Mia has 2 sweets and Leo has 5. How many more does Mia need to have the same?

  1. Count on from 2 to 5: 3, 4, 5.
  2. That is 3 more.

Answer: 3

Practise it

Start with the warm-up and go as far as you can. The stretch questions are meant to be hard.

Warm-up

Warm-up

Core

Core

Stretch 🔥

Answers (for the teacher)
  1. yes
  2. no
  3. 3
  4. 6
  5. 2

Part 3 of 3 · learn, see, practise

Putting numbers in order

Smallest first means start with the number that comes first when you count.

A number line helps: numbers get bigger as you go along.

Example 1

Put 4, 1, 3 in order, smallest first.

  1. Which comes first when counting? 1.
  2. Then 3, then 4.

Answer: 1, 3, 4

Example 2

Which number is between 4 and 6?

  1. Count 4, 5, 6.
  2. 5 is in the middle.

Answer: 5

Practise it

Start with the warm-up and go as far as you can. The stretch questions are meant to be hard.

Warm-up

Warm-up

Core

Core

Stretch 🔥

Answers (for the teacher)
  1. 2
  2. 10
  3. 5
  4. 7
  5. 8

Watch out

Common mistakes

Bigger things means more

5 tiny ants are more than 3 big elephants. Count, do not look at size.

Forgetting to match

Line the groups up so you can see what is left over.

Mixing up more and fewer

Fewer means the smaller number.

Class activity 1 of 3

Snack shop

The shop has 5 apples 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎 and 3 bananas 🍌🍌🍌.

  1. Line the apples and bananas up.
  2. Count what is left over.
  3. Change the groups and compare again.

Answers (for the teacher)
  1. apples
  2. 2
  3. 4
  4. 1

Class activity 2 of 3

Line up the numbers

Four children hold the numbers 7, 3, 9 and 5.

  1. Find the smallest number.
  2. Find the biggest number.
  3. Put all four in order.

Answers (for the teacher)
  1. 3
  2. 9
  3. 5
  4. 3

Class activity 3 of 3

Fair or not?

Is everyone getting one each? Count what is left.

  1. Give one to each person.
  2. Count what is left.
  3. Say if it is fair.

Answers (for the teacher)
  1. 2
  2. 2
  3. 5
  4. 10

After class · project

More or fewer hunt

Find pairs of groups at home and say which has more.

What to make: Three pairs of groups compared.

Stretch: Find two groups that are equal.

How it is marked

Look forDone well when
CountingBoth groups are counted right
ComparingMore or fewer is right

Project template

Copy it onto paper or print the practice sheet.

Group 1: ______ (how many? ___)
Group 2: ______ (how many? ___)
Which has more? ______  How many more? ___
My drawing:

Homework

Practise at home

Try each on paper, then tap to see the answer and working. Or print the practice sheet.

  1. Count the forks and the spoons at home. Which is more?

    Line them up to check.

  2. Which is bigger: 8 or 5?

    8

  3. Put 2, 9, 6 in order, smallest first.

    2, 6, 9

  4. Draw 4 hats and 4 heads. Are they equal?

    Yes, every head has a hat.

🔥 Challenge round · finished early?

The hardest questions of the lesson, no notes

Cover the notes and try these from memory. They are meant to make you think hard: draw, try small cases, and check your answer.

Stretch 🔥

Stretch 🔥

Stretch 🔥

Answers (for the teacher)
  1. 2
  2. 2
  3. 8

🧠 Think-hard question

Put 12, 8, 15 and 10 in order.

Talk it through or use the drawing board. There is more than one way to get there.

🎯 Practice mode: one question at a time🧩 Brain warm-ups🎮 Maths and logic games

Quiz · 8 questions

Final quiz: check what you learned

Pick an answer to see if it is right and why. Your best score is saved on this device.

1Which is more: 4 or 7?
Show the answer

7. 7 comes after 4, so it is more.

2Which is fewer: 9 or 6?
Show the answer

6. 6 is less than 9.

3Which is the biggest: 2, 8 or 5?
Show the answer

8. 8 comes last when you count.

4Which is the smallest: 7, 3 or 10?
Show the answer

3. 3 comes first when you count.

5Are 5 and 5 equal?
Show the answer

yes. They are the same number.

6Which number is between 7 and 9?
Show the answer

8. 7, 8, 9.

7Jo has 3 cars and Sam has 7. How many more does Sam have?
Show the answer

4. Count on from 3 to 7: 4, 5, 6, 7 is 4 more.

8Put 6, 1, 4 in order. Which comes first?
Show the answer

1. 1 is the smallest.

🖨 Print what we learned

Make a worksheet from this lesson

Pick what to practise, then print it or choose Save as PDF in the print window to download it.

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For parents and teachers

The 45-minute lesson plan

Use it as it is, or stretch any part over two sessions. Each row links to the part of the page you need.

TimePartThe teacherThe learner
0–4 minWarm-upAsk the warm-up question with real objects or fingers.Show, count and say.
4–12 minMore and fewerShow one example at a time, let the child point and count, then the practice.Practise; try the star question.
12–20 minEqualUse the interactive part on the screen, then the practice.Play, then practise.
20–27 minOrderExplain with objects, then the practice.Practise.
27–32 minActivity 1Make it a game with real things at home.Play and answer.
32–37 minActivity 2Do the first item together.Finish the activity.
37–41 minActivity 3Keep it quick; stop while it is fun.Solve and check.
41–44 minPicture quizRead each question aloud; the child taps the answer.Tap and hear why.
44–45 minHome activityShow the home activity and the worksheet for homework.Take it home.

Questions to ask

  • How can you tell which group has more without counting?
  • What does equal mean?
  • Which number comes first when you count?

If it feels hard

Use two rows of counters lined up exactly under each other.

If it feels easy

Put 12, 8, 15 and 10 in order.

FAQ

Comparing: more, fewer and the same: questions

How do you teach more and fewer?

Line the two groups up side by side so the leftovers show which has more, then compare the numbers.

What does equal mean for a 5-year-old?

Every thing has a partner with none left over: the groups have the same number.

Is comparing numbers in Year 1?

Yes. Comparing and ordering numbers is part of Reception and Year 1 maths in England.

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