Start with Hands-On Learning to Build Number Sense
It is so important that you begin with a hands-on approach. Students are more likely to become engaged when they use a variety of materials. Before the novelty wears off, pique your students' interest with something new and switch up the directions or activity to further explore comparing sets or other math concepts you are presenting. Model and teach vocabulary like more, less, greater than, less than, fewer, and equal by using an assortment of manipulatives. I have used yarn, popsicle sticks, and straws between sets to show one-to-one matching.
Encourage Math Talk and Peer Learning
Once students can identify sets using vocabulary words you have introduced, encourage them to create their own sets and use those new math terms as they explain their thinking to their peers. Use these terms during your daily Math Talks and deepen understanding with more in-depth questioning techniques. For example:
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How many more would you need to make these two sets equal?
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How many more blue beads are there compared to the yellow beads?
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Which set shows four fewer beads? How do you know?
Invite students to explain their thinking to a partner, then choose volunteers to share with the class.
Connect Math to Real Life Through Stories and Props
You can also introduce ten frames or graphs as tools for students to organize materials before comparing. It’s always best to create number stories that kids can relate to—children learn more effectively when math is connected to real-life situations. For example, create a story about getting ready for a birthday party and use props to have the kids act it out:
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Who has more plates?
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Who has fewer napkins?
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Are there enough party hats for everyone?
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Who has two fewer cookies on their plate?
These relatable scenarios help bring comparing numbers to life in a meaningful and memorable way.
Introducing Mr. Alligator: A Fun Approach to Symbolic Learning
When I introduce the concept of comparing numbers to my kindergarten class, I don’t begin with the symbols < > = until students have a strong grasp of the vocabulary and can confidently compare sets. Students develop number sense at different rates throughout the year. Once they’re ready, I bring in Mr. Alligator, a favorite classroom character who loves to chomp the greater number.
This simple visual trick helps young learners understand the meaning behind the comparison symbols. There are so many fun YouTube videos that support this concept! And of course, our set includes four colorful Alligator Posters to reinforce learning.
Creative Manipulatives That Keep Students Engaged
Here is a list of some of my favorite hands-on math tools—many of which can be found at Dollar Tree. These items are perfect for math centers, small groups, or whole-class activities and keep your students excited about learning to compare numbers:
Popsicle SticksMini Erasers
Beads
Beans
Old Keys
Counting Bears
Unifix Cubes
Glass Gems
By rotating and refreshing your manipulatives, you’ll maintain students’ curiosity and attention while reinforcing math concepts in playful ways.
Make Comparing Numbers Fun with Mr. Alligator!
Once your students are confident using comparison vocabulary like greater than, less than, and equal to, it's time to introduce symbolic notation—and Mr. Alligator is here to help! This hungry character always munches the bigger number, making it easy for young learners to remember the direction of the comparison symbols. Bring the concept to life with props, playful classroom discussions, and engaging YouTube videos that reinforce the idea visually.
Ready to dive in? Check out our best-selling Comparing Numbers resource on Teachers Pay Teachers! This 100-page printable and digital bundle includes hands-on activities with dice, base ten blocks, playing cards, and our lovable alligator posters. With over 750 five-star reviews, it’s trusted by teachers to support learners at all levels—making it a must-have for your math instruction toolkit.
Product Highlights
Explore this versatile set featuring:
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Differentiated worksheets for numbers up to 120
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Interactive activities like spin and tally, domino comparisons, and base ten block scales
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Hands-on tools and posters to reinforce greater than, less than, and equal to concepts
Aligns with Common Core Standards
