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Clarifications
Clarification 1: Instruction focuses on matching, counting and the connection to addition and subtraction.Clarification 2: Within this benchmark, the expectation is not to use the relational symbols =,> or <.
Benchmark Instructional Guide
Connecting Benchmarks/Horizontal Alignment
Terms from the K-12 Glossary
- NA
Vertical Alignment
Previous Benchmarks
Next Benchmarks
Purpose and Instructional Strategies
The purpose of this benchmark is to develop student understanding of comparing numbers and values relative to others. This benchmark may be used to connect to the counting sequence, forwards and backwards, and to addition and subtraction as strategies to compare numbers.- Instructions encourage students to explain “how they know” a number is greater than, less than or equal to (MTR.6.1).
- For example, a student could explain that 5 is after 3 so 5 is greater than 3. A student could also pair objects one-to-one to determine that 5 is greater than 3.
- Instruction allows for students to compare sets and demonstrate their thinking using various strategies, such as addition and subtraction, counting on or back, and manipulatives (MTR.2.1).
- For example, 7 is greater than 5 because 5 + 2 = 7 and because it is like starting at 5 and counting “5, 6, 7.”
- Instruction includes pairing objects in two sets one-to-one, students may observe that a set has more objects when there are no more to pair with (MTR.5.1).
- Instruction includes the language “which is greater,” “which is less,” and “are they equal,” to help students develop vocabulary.
- Instruction includes comparing sets of objects as well as numbers.
Common Misconceptions or Errors
- Students may confuse the size of objects with the number of objects when comparing.
Strategies to Support Tiered Instruction
- Instruction includes presenting students with two sets of objects to compare in which modeling of a matching strategy is used to determine precisely which set has more.
- For example, the teacher may use questions that can elicit student thinking about the relationship between quantity and size including
- “Do you think they have the same amount? How do you know?”
- “When we want to see if one group has more, less or the same, we will compare the groups by matching one from each group.”
- Students may record the numbers or drawings of their comparisons and describe how they determined which group was more, or less.
- For example, the teacher may use questions that can elicit student thinking about the relationship between quantity and size including
- Instruction includes a focus on “equal” by presenting students with two sets of objects with equal quantities in which the objects in one set are at least twice as large as the objects in the other set.
- For example, students will need to be introduced to the idea that larger items don’t necessarily mean they are “more” or that smaller items mean there are “less.”
- Student can match a larger item from one group to a smaller item from the other group. When all objects have a match, teachers can state that “Each group has the same amount. Another word for same is ‘equal.’”
- Teacher may provide ten frames or math racks to do the following activities with students:
- Teacher shows students two numbers to build and compare.
- Teacher then can elicit student thinking by asking guiding questions such as:
- “What do you notice about each ten frame/row?
- "Are they equal?”,
- “Which one is greater?”,
- “Which one is less?“How far from 10 is each number?
Instructional Tasks
Instructional Task 1 (MTR 2.1, MTR5.1, MTR 6.1)
Given two sets of objects (pictorially or concrete objects), students will count and record the number of objects in each set. Give time for students to discuss in groups and ask the following:- Which number is greater?
- How do you know?
- Which number is less?
- How do you know?
- What’s the total number of objects?
- How many more is in one group than the other?
- How far away from ten is each number?
- How far away from twenty is each number?
- 9 is greater than 5, because when I count, 9 comes after 5.
- I know 5 is less than 9, because 9 is greater than 5.
- I know that 9 is greater than 5, because I have to add 4 to 5 to get 9.
- I counted all of the objects.
- I subtracted the two numbers, I matched them and found the number left over.
Instructional Task 2
Teacher provides students with two sets of objects. Group A has 8 objects and Group B has 6 objects. Teacher asks student, Is group A greater than or less than group B? Teacher then asks, How do you know; what would you do to make the groups equal?
Instructional Items
Instructional Item 1
*The strategies, tasks and items included in the B1G-M are examples and should not be considered comprehensive.
Related Courses
Related Access Points
Related Resources
Formative Assessments
Lesson Plans
Original Student Tutorials
Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea
Worksheets
STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity
In this Model Eliciting Activity, MEA, students will work in teams to determine the best unique pizza topping to add to a restaurant menu.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
This MEA is designed at a Kindergarten grade level. Students will work in teams to determine the best apple treat to showcase in a display at a farm stand. Students will use criteria such as smell, taste, and profit to make their determinations.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.
In this Model Eliciting Activity, MEA, the class receives a letter from the principal informing them they will be getting a class pet. They need to determine which pet to pick based on the data.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
In this open-ended question, students, in teams will make decisions about how to rank shoes based on various shoe characteristics (e.g., color, comfort, shoelaces, lights, and customer ratings).
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.
In this Model Eliciting Activity, MEA, students will work in collaborative groups to choose the best ice cream bar that an ice cream truck may sell. Students will analyze the data provided and come up with a solution. They will also be asked to reevaluate their written procedures once a second data set is presented.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
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In this Model Eliciting Activity, MEA, students, in teams, will make decisions about how to select a new bicycle for a mountain bicycle company to start selling.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
In this Model Eliciting Activity, MEA, students will be working in small groups to figure out what moving company is best for a family that is moving to a different state. The students will be using criteria such as pricing, moving of vehicles, speed, and safety.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought processes. MEAs follow a problem-based, student-centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
This MEA is designed on a Kindergarten grade level. Students will work in teams to determine the best piece of playground equipment to add to the city playground. Students will use criteria such as safety, cost, degree of fun, and time to build to make their determinations.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.
Students will work in teams to help choose the best Popsicle to sell. They will develop a procedure based on the following criteria: taste, color, cost, and melting speed. They will reassess the Popsicles during the twist incorporating flavors and a fourth Popsicle choice. Students may arrange the criteria based on their team's interpretation of most important to least important. Students may have to make trade offs based on these interpretations.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.
In this MEA, students will help pick a flower that will be the focus of the Spring Festival. They will practice counting pictures and representing the number of pictures with a written numeral.
In teams, students will make decisions about how to select the best bakery based on various cupcake characteristics (e.g., taste, smell).
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.
In this Model Eliciting Activity, MEA, students will work in teams to determine the best pet toys to buy for a pet daycare.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx
In this open-ended question, students, in teams will make decisions about how to rank new ice cream flavors for Frosty's based on various ice cream characteristics (e.g., taste, smell, color and fun factor). Students will practice analyzing data sets and their writing skills to record their process and thinking.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.
MFAS Formative Assessments
Students are shown two cards with pictures of animals and asked to compare the number of animals on the two cards.
Students are asked to compare two numbers between 1 and 10 using playing cards.
Students work in pairs to compare 10 frame cards that contain both a numeral and a corresponding number of dots.
Students take handfuls of counters, count them, and use the terms greater than, less than, or equal to to compare the sets.
Students are asked to compare two numbers between 1 and 10 during a game of "Which is Greater?".
Students compare groups of objects to determine whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group.
Original Student Tutorials Mathematics - Grades K-5
Help Scoopy compare the number of objects in two groups and describe the comparison using the term "equal to" at the ice cream shop with this interactive tutorial.
Explore comparing sets that are equal with Scoopy the ice cream cone at the Fair Share Ice Cream Haven. In this interactive tutorial, you will use counting to compare the number of ice cream shop related objects in two groups and describe the comparison using the term "equal to."
Help Doughy the doughnut compare sets of objects to determine which set has more objects on a sweet mathematical adventure at the More Than Enough Goodies Bakery. In this interactive tutorial, you will use counting to compare the number of bakery-related objects in two groups and use the term "greater than" to tell which group has more objects than the other group.
Help Doughy the doughnut compare sets of objects to determine which has more objects at the More Than Enough Goodies Bakery in this interactive tutorial. You will match to compare the number of bakery-related objects in two groups and use the term "greater than" to tell which group has more objects than the other group.
Help Beefy the Burger compare sets of objects to determine which set has fewer objects with this interactive tutorial. At the Not Enough Nibbles Diner, you will use counting to compare the number of diner related objects in two groups and use the term "less than" to tell which group does not have as many objects as the other group.
Explore comparing sets of objects to determine which set has fewer objects with Beefy the burger on a flavorful mathematical adventure at the Not Enough Nibbles Diner. In this interactive tutorial, you will use matching to compare the number of diner related objects in two groups and use the term "less than" to tell which group does not have as many objects as the other group.
Student Resources
Original Student Tutorials
Help Beefy the Burger compare sets of objects to determine which set has fewer objects with this interactive tutorial. At the Not Enough Nibbles Diner, you will use counting to compare the number of diner related objects in two groups and use the term "less than" to tell which group does not have as many objects as the other group.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore comparing sets that are equal with Scoopy the ice cream cone at the Fair Share Ice Cream Haven. In this interactive tutorial, you will use counting to compare the number of ice cream shop related objects in two groups and describe the comparison using the term "equal to."
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Help Doughy the doughnut compare sets of objects to determine which set has more objects on a sweet mathematical adventure at the More Than Enough Goodies Bakery. In this interactive tutorial, you will use counting to compare the number of bakery-related objects in two groups and use the term "greater than" to tell which group has more objects than the other group.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Help Doughy the doughnut compare sets of objects to determine which has more objects at the More Than Enough Goodies Bakery in this interactive tutorial. You will match to compare the number of bakery-related objects in two groups and use the term "greater than" to tell which group has more objects than the other group.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Explore comparing sets of objects to determine which set has fewer objects with Beefy the burger on a flavorful mathematical adventure at the Not Enough Nibbles Diner. In this interactive tutorial, you will use matching to compare the number of diner related objects in two groups and use the term "less than" to tell which group does not have as many objects as the other group.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Help Scoopy compare the number of objects in two groups and describe the comparison using the term "equal to" at the ice cream shop with this interactive tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
