Place Value & Compare Script

Warm-Up: What's the Value? (5 minutes)

"Good morning, everyone! Let's get our math brains warmed up. I'm going to show you some numbers, and I want you to tell me what you notice about them. For example, if I show you the number 15, what does that number tell you? What parts make up 15?"

(Listen for responses that hint at tens and ones, or groups of numbers. Guide them towards this idea if they don't get there immediately.)

"Great ideas! Today, we're going to dig even deeper into what numbers are made of and how we can compare them!"

Introduction to Place Value (10 minutes)

(Display Numbers Up! Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Place Value?)

"Look at this slide. It says 'What is Place Value?' Place value is like a secret code in numbers. Every digit, every single number from 0 to 9, has a job to do and a special place it lives. Where it lives tells us its value!"

(Display Numbers Up! Slide Deck - Slide 3: Tens and Ones Power!)

"For first grade, we're focusing on two very important places: the ones place and the tens place. Think of it like this: The ones place holds single items, like individual cookies. The tens place holds groups of ten cookies, all bundled up!"

"Let's look at the example: the number 37. The '7' is in the ones place. That means we have 7 individual ones. The '3' is in the tens place. That means we have 3 groups of ten, which is like having 3 bundles of 10 cookies, or 30 cookies! So, 37 is 3 tens and 7 ones."

"Who can tell me, in the number 23, how many tens do we have? And how many ones?"

(Wait for responses. Repeat with a few other numbers like 41, 50, 9.)

"Excellent! You're becoming place value detectives!"

Comparing Numbers: Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To (10 minutes)

(Display Numbers Up! Slide Deck - Slide 4: Comparing Numbers: Who's Bigger?)

"Now that we know about tens and ones, let's learn how to compare numbers. Sometimes we need to know if one number is bigger than another, smaller than another, or if they're exactly the same. We have three special symbols to help us!"

(Display Numbers Up! Slide Deck - Slide 5: Greater Than (>))

"This first symbol looks like a hungry alligator's mouth! And guess what? This alligator always wants to eat the bigger number! So, the open mouth always points to the number that has more value. We say this symbol means 'greater than'. Look at the example: 8 > 3. We read that as '8 is greater than 3'. The alligator wants to eat the 8!"

"Can someone give me an example of two numbers where the first number is greater than the second?"

(Display Numbers Up! Slide Deck - Slide 6: Less Than (<))

"Now, sometimes the alligator has to turn the other way! This symbol means 'less than'. The alligator still wants to eat the bigger number, so the small, pointy end points to the smaller number. In the example, 3 < 8, we read that as '3 is less than 8'. The alligator is still trying to eat the 8, but it's facing the other way!"

"If I have 10 cookies and my friend has 12 cookies, how would I write that using the 'less than' symbol?"

(Display Numbers Up! Slide Deck - Slide 7: Equal To (=))

"What if both numbers are exactly the same? That's when we use this symbol, the 'equal to' sign! It means they have the same value. 5 = 5 means '5 is equal to 5'. They are buddies, perfectly balanced!"

"If you and your friend both have 7 stickers, how would you write that using our new symbols?"

(Display Numbers Up! Slide Deck - Slide 8: How Do We Compare?)

"Here's the trick to comparing two-digit numbers: Always look at the tens place first! The number with more tens is usually the bigger number. If the tens are the same, then you look at the ones place to see which number is bigger."

"Let's try the example: Compare 62 and 48. What do you notice about the tens place in 62? (6 tens, or 60). What about 48? (4 tens, or 40). Since 6 tens is greater than 4 tens, we know that 62 is greater than 48! So, 62 > 48."

(Display Numbers Up! Slide Deck - Slide 9: Let's Practice!)

"Alright, your turn! Look at the numbers on the slide: 25 and 29. Talk with your elbow partner: which symbol >, <, or = goes in the middle? Why? Remember our rule: check the tens place first, then the ones place!"

(After a minute or two, call on students to share and explain. Guide them to see that the tens are the same, so they look at the ones. 5 ones is less than 9 ones, so 25 < 29.)

(Display Numbers Up! Slide Deck - Slide 10: More Practice!)

"One more practice! Compare 71 and 57. Discuss with your partner."

(Again, call on students. Guide them to focus on the tens place: 7 tens is greater than 5 tens, so 71 > 57.)

"Fantastic work, everyone! You're really getting the hang of it!"

Guided Practice: Card Comparison (10 minutes)

"Now, we're going to play a game with our Comparing Numbers Activity Cards. I'm going to give each pair of students a set of cards. Your job is to pick two cards, compare the numbers using our symbols (greater than, less than, or equal to), and write down your comparison on a piece of scratch paper. Talk with your partner about how you know which symbol to use! I'll be walking around to see your amazing math work!"

(Circulate and observe. Provide hints and support as needed. Look for students correctly identifying tens and ones as they compare.)

Independent Practice: Worksheet Time (8 minutes)

"Okay, mathematicians! It's time to show what you know on your own. I'm handing out the Place Value & Comparison Worksheet. You'll see questions about identifying tens and ones, and then you'll compare pairs of numbers using >, <, or =. Do your best, and remember to use your place value super-skills!"

(Distribute worksheets. Monitor students. Remind them to check their tens first.)

Cool-Down: Symbol Sort (2 minutes)

"Alright, as we wrap up, let's do a quick cool-down. On your desks, can you show me with your fingers, or draw quickly in the air, the 'greater than' symbol? (Pause) Now, the 'less than' symbol? (Pause) And finally, the 'equal to' symbol?"

"Turn to a neighbor and tell them one new thing you learned about comparing numbers today, or one thing you found a little tricky."

"Excellent job today, everyone! You all crushed place value and comparison!"

Place Value Warm-Up

Directions: Look at each number below. Circle the digit in the tens place and underline the digit in the ones place.

1. 35
   
   
   
2. 18
   
   
   
3. 40
   
   
   
4. 27
   
   
   

Challenge Question: What does the circled digit in number 1 really mean? (Hint: How many groups of ten?)

Tiered Comparison Challenge

Directions for Teacher: Use this activity to support students at different levels of understanding. Students can choose a challenge level or be assigned one. Encourage discussion and justification of their comparisons.

Tier 1: Tens Tally & Compare (Support)

Goal: Understand that the number of tens is usually the biggest factor in comparing numbers.

Instructions:

1. Pick two Comparing Numbers Activity Cards where the tens digits are different (e.g., 24 and 42).
2. Draw a quick picture for each number, showing the tens (as sticks) and ones (as dots).
3. Circle the number that has more tens.
4. Write the comparison using > or <. (e.g., 24 < 42)

Tier 2: Tricky Tens & Ones (On-Level)

Goal: Accurately compare two-digit numbers, especially when the tens digits are the same.

Instructions:

1. Pick two Comparing Numbers Activity Cards.
2. First, look at the tens place of both numbers. If they are different, use the tens to compare.
3. If the tens are the same, then look at the ones place to compare.
4. Write the comparison using >, <, or =. (e.g., 51 < 56 or 72 = 72)

Tier 3: Three Number Order-Up! (Challenge)

Goal: Compare and order three two-digit numbers from least to greatest or greatest to least.

Instructions:

1. Pick three Comparing Numbers Activity Cards.
2. Look at all three numbers carefully.
3. Order the numbers from least to greatest.
4. Write your ordered numbers using the < symbol between them. (e.g., 19 < 38 < 42)

Comparing Numbers Activity Cards

Directions for Teacher: Print and cut out these cards. Distribute sets to pairs or small groups of students. Instruct them to pick two cards, compare the numbers using >, <, or =, and write their comparison on a separate sheet of paper.

Card Set 1

Card Set 2

Card Set 3

Card Set 4

Card Set 5

Card Set 6

(Continue adding more cards as needed for variety)

Place Value & Comparison Worksheet

Name: _________________________

Date: _________________________

Part 1: Place Value Power!

Directions: Write how many tens and ones are in each number.

1. 17
   _______ tens _______ ones
   
   
   
2. 42
   _______ tens _______ ones
   
   
   
3. 20
   _______ tens _______ ones
   
   
   
4. 59
   _______ tens _______ ones
   
   
   

Part 2: Comparing Champions!

Directions: Use >, <, or = to compare each pair of numbers.

5. 34 _______ 28
   
   
   
6. 51 _______ 56
   
   
   
7. 77 _______ 77
   
   
   
8. 19 _______ 91
   
   
   
9. 65 _______ 60
   
   
   
10. 43 _______ 34
    
    
    

Place Value Cool-Down

Directions: Draw a picture or write a sentence for each question.

1. Draw the symbol for greater than (>) and write a number comparison using it.
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Draw the symbol for less than (<) and write a number comparison using it.
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Draw the symbol for equal to (=) and write a number comparison using it.
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Bonus: Explain in your own words how you know which number is bigger when comparing two-digit numbers.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Place Value & Comparison Answer Key

Place Value Warm-Up

Directions: Look at each number below. Circle the digit in the tens place and underline the digit in the ones place.

1. (3)5
2. (1)8
3. (4)0
4. (2)7

Challenge Question: What does the circled digit in number 1 really mean? (Hint: How many groups of ten?)

• The circled digit '3' in 35 means 3 groups of ten, which has a value of 30.

Place Value & Comparison Worksheet

Part 1: Place Value Power!

Directions: Write how many tens and ones are in each number.

1. 17
   1 tens 7 ones

2. 42
   4 tens 2 ones

3. 20
   2 tens 0 ones

4. 59
   5 tens 9 ones

Part 2: Comparing Champions!

Directions: Use >, <, or = to compare each pair of numbers.

5. 34 > 28
   Thought Process: Compare the tens place first. 3 tens is greater than 2 tens, so 34 is greater than 28.

6. 51 < 56
   Thought Process: The tens places are the same (5 tens). So, compare the ones place. 1 one is less than 6 ones, so 51 is less than 56.

7. 77 = 77
   Thought Process: Both the tens and ones places are the same, so the numbers are equal.

8. 19 < 91
   Thought Process: Compare the tens place first. 1 ten is less than 9 tens, so 19 is less than 91.

9. 65 > 60
   Thought Process: The tens places are the same (6 tens). So, compare the ones place. 5 ones is greater than 0 ones, so 65 is greater than 60.

10. 43 > 34
    Thought Process: Compare the tens place first. 4 tens is greater than 3 tens, so 43 is greater than 34.

Place Value Cool-Down

Directions: Draw a picture or write a sentence for each question.

1. Draw the symbol for greater than (>) and write a number comparison using it.

   • Example Drawing: A sideways V opening to the left.
   • Example Comparison: 10 > 5

2. Draw the symbol for less than (<) and write a number comparison using it.

   • Example Drawing: A sideways V opening to the right.
   • Example Comparison: 5 < 10

3. Draw the symbol for equal to (=) and write a number comparison using it.

   • Example Drawing: Two parallel horizontal lines.
   • Example Comparison: 7 = 7

4. Bonus: Explain in your own words how you know which number is bigger when comparing two-digit numbers.

   • Student should explain something similar to: "I look at the tens place first. The number with more tens is bigger. If the tens are the same, then I look at the ones place to see which number has more."