Counting items. Comparison (more, less, equal)

Counting objects and comparing

Counting means naming objects one after another: one, two, three… That way we learn how many there are in all. Comparing helps answer: where there are more, where there are fewer, or if it is the same. You will use these skills at the store, in games, on a walk — anywhere there are things you can count and put side by side to compare.

Counting — we name objects in order and find how many there are.

Comparing — we look at two groups: more, less, or equal.

The symbols

<

>

, and

=

help you write the result of a comparison.

Practice calmly: you can count out loud or point along the picture.

How to count objects

Count out loud and touch each object only once: "one — apple, two — apple…". That way you will not skip any or count twice. If the objects are in a row, it is easiest to go from left to right.

Comparison signs: greater than, less than, equal

When the groups are the same size, we write $=$ . When one group is bigger, $>$ and $<$ help. Below are three memory cards.

ℹ️Memory trick: for

<

and

>

, the sharp "beak" points toward the smaller side (the smaller amount). Check with an example: in

3 < 5

the beak looks at the three.

Exercise 1: count the apples

Exercise 2: compare two groups

✅Well done! Counting and comparing are like muscle memory: the more you practice, the easier it gets. Come back to the apple and fish examples, make your own groups at home, and compare them out loud.