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Compare collections

Arcomm · First edition, 2026-09-08 · References

Try it

  1. Match one with one.
  2. Which has more? Which has fewer?
  3. Make the groups equal. Explain.

Compare 3 counters and 5 counters. Match one with one. Which group has more?

Compare 4 counters and 4 counters. How do you know whether they are equal?

Make your own groups and ask a partner to compare.

Your materials

Open the pupil workbook PDF. Use pages 12, 41.

Counters and comparison mats.

Teacher lesson plan

Learning goal

Determine more, fewer, or equal using matching or counting.

Before teaching

Can count or match the selected quantities.

Model

Make sets of 3 and 5, one spread wide and one close together. Pair one item from each. Explain that the unpaired items show which has more, regardless of the row’s length.

Guide, then apply

Compare the pictured groups, then build different groups and rearrange them. Invite both matching and counting explanations. Ask how to make a pair of unequal collections equal.

Interpret the response

On the pupil page, 5 is more than 3; 4 and 4 are equal. If the child uses physical length alone, match items and change spacing while preserving number.

Support

Use movable pieces and aligned pairs. Teach the words more, fewer, and equal through action and home-language equivalents.

Extend when ready

Find how many must be added or removed to make the collections equal, and explain why.

Fresh check

Compare a widely spaced set of 4 with a close set of 6 after both quantities are taught. Ask the child to prove the comparison.

Teacher plans PDF: page 12. Record exact support and revisit the idea later.

Keep learning

Next in this path: Put parts together · Choose a learning path

References and source dates

Sources and dates

Back to the classroom syllabus · Browse TK materials