Five Minutes Math: Collect and Compare, an easy family math activity

Comparison is a skill that many grade school children struggle with. The idea of “less than” and “more than” get tricky, especially when you throw in large numbers and symbols.

Why not help your child practice with a fun collection activity? Here’s how:

1. Collect- encourage your child to collect as many as they can of something. Maybe it’s pebbles, maybe leaves, maybe all those toys are that are laying on the living room floor
2. Group– make groups with the objects. You can group by color, size, or other characteristic (all Pokemon in one pile and all cars in another). You can even make random groups, what ever works.
3. Compare– help your child make comparisons about the groups. Try to use the language “more than” or “less than”. For example, “Look! There are more black rocks toys than red rocks!”
4. Repeat- you can use the same items and just make new groups of find an entirely new collection. It’s up to you!

For older children: if comparison statements are easy, challenge your child to compare with symbols. Draw the “greater than” symbol (>) and “less than” symbol (<) on two pieces of paper. Help your child place the correct symbol between groups… you might even need an “equal” symbol (=)

Quick tip- Think of the “greater than” and “less than” symbols as arrow with a point that always goes to the smaller quantity.

Did you try this activity? How did it go? Leave a comment- I’d love to hear about your experiences.

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