Grade by Grade
Strand A: Foundations of Language and Mathematics · Numbers and Counting

More, Fewer, or the Same

A6.6 A6.10 A5About 20 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can tell which group has more and which has fewer.
  • I can tell when two groups have the same number.
  • I can match things one to one to compare.
  • I can make two groups the same.

Words to know

more
A bigger number of things. 5 is more than 3.
fewer
A smaller number of things. 3 is fewer than 5. (We also say "less".)
same
Both groups have the same number. We also say equal.
compare
Look at two groups to see which has more or fewer, or if they are the same.

Snack time!

Grown-up: read aloud.

You have some cookies. Your friend has some cookies. Who has more? Let's find out.

Two white plates of cookies sit side by side: one plate has four cookies and the other has two.
Which plate has more cookies? Match them up: two cookies on the left plate have no partner. AI-generated image
🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
Top row: your 5 cookies. Bottom row: your friend's 3 cookies.

Match them up

To compare, we can match them one to one. Put one of yours beside one of your friend's.

Some cookies have no partner. They are in your row. So you have more. Your friend has fewer.

The same

If every thing has a partner, and none are left over, the groups are the same. We also say they are equal.

🐶🐶🐶🐶🦴🦴🦴🦴
4 dogs and 4 bones. Every dog has a bone. They are the same.
Worked example

Which has more: ten frames

Look at the two ten frames. Which one has more?

  1. Left frame: a full row of 5 and 1 more is 6.
  2. Right frame: 4.
  3. The left frame fills more spaces.
  4. 6 comes after 4 when we count, so 6 is more.

6 is more than 4. The left frame has more. The right frame has fewer.

Left: 6. Right: 4.
Worked example

Make it the same

Nia has 5 mittens. Kai has 3 mittens. How can we make them the same?

  1. Match them. 3 mittens have partners.
  2. Nia has 2 mittens with no partner.
  3. Give Kai 2 more mittens: 3, then 4, 5.
  4. Now both have 5. Every mitten has a partner.

Give Kai 2 more. Then they both have 5, the same.

🧤🧤🧤🧤🧤🧤🧤🧤
Top: Nia's 5 mittens. Bottom: Kai's 3 mittens.

Don't let your eyes trick you

Bigger things don't always mean more! 3 big watermelons are fewer than 5 small grapes. Count to check. Spread-out rows can trick our eyes too, so match them up.

Just for fun

Silly but true: a mouse with 5 crumbs has more than an elephant with 3 peanuts! 🐭🐘 Being bigger doesn’t mean having more. Count to check!

Hands-on activity

Handful compare

You need: a bowl of dry pasta, cereal, or blocks.

  1. You and a grown-up each grab one handful.
  2. Line up your pieces in a row. The grown-up lines up theirs right underneath.
  3. Match them one to one. Who has more? Who has fewer? Or are they the same?
  4. Now make them the same: add some or take some away.
  5. Play again!

Also try: "Are there enough chairs for everyone?" at dinner. Compare by matching.

Your turn

1

Which row has more?

Cats: 🐱🐱🐱🐱

Dogs: 🐶🐶

2

Which row has fewer?

Apples: 🍎🍎🍎

Pears: 🍐🍐🍐🍐🍐🍐

3

Are these the same?

🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗

🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙

4

Which is more: 7 or 2?

5

Grown-up: put 3 spoons and 5 forks on the table. Are there more spoons or more forks?

6

Which group has more? 3 big watermelons 🍉🍉🍉 or 5 small grapes 🍇🍇🍇🍇🍇

More practice: warm-up

1

Which has more?

Birds: 🐦

Fish: 🐟🐟🐟

2

Which has fewer?

Stars: ⭐⭐

Moons: 🌙🌙🌙🌙

3

Are these the same?

🍌🍌🍌

🍌🍌🍌

4

Which is more: 5 or 1?

5

Hold up 2 fingers on one hand and 4 on the other. Which hand shows more?

More practice: on your own

1

Which has more?

Hats: 🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢🧢

Boots: 👢👢👢👢👢👢👢👢

2

Which is fewer: 9 or 4?

3

Bees: 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

Flowers: 🌼🌼🌼🌼

Is there a flower for every bee?

4

Make these the same. How many more trees do we need?

🌲🌲🌲🌲

🌲🌲🌲

5

Ten frame A has a full top row (5). Ten frame B has a full top row and 2 more (7). Which has more?

Challenge

1

Make these the same. How many more leaves do we need?

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

🍁🍁🍁🍁

2

Eli has 6 blocks. Zoe has 6 blocks, but hers are spread far apart. Who has more?

3

Sort from fewest to most: 8, 3, 5

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Which has more?

Cookies: 🍪🍪

Muffins: 🧁🧁🧁🧁🧁

2.

Are these the same?

🐸🐸🐸

🐸🐸🐸

3.

Which number is fewer?

4.

Ava has 4 stickers. Max has 2. How many more does Max need to have the same?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Comparing groups (more, fewer, the same) is the start of understanding equality and subtraction. Matching one to one is the most reliable strategy for young children. Later they compare by counting: the number said later is more.

Common difficulties:

  • Choosing the longer row or bigger objects as "more". Young children judge by how much space a group takes up. Line the groups up and match them.
  • Mixing up "fewer" and "more". Use both words often in daily talk: "You have more peas than carrots."
  • Not knowing which number is bigger without objects. Link to counting order: "Which do we say first, 4 or 7? So 7 is more."

How to help: Compare everyday groups: forks and plates, boots and children, snacks. Ask "Are there enough?" and "How many more do we need?" Use the word equal for groups that are the same, to prepare for Grade 1.