7. Are the groups equal? (A)

Lesson objective: Apply understanding that we can  create and compare a group to see if it is greater than, less than or equal to another group.

This lesson provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and understanding of comparing to a common situation that happens in the classroom . Students are asked to compare a set of cheezy snacks to a specific amount that they are supposed to get. They use counters or other math tools to decide if their cheezy snacks are equal to Maya's (5).  

Key Concept students will use: 

• Sets of objects can be compared using the language greater than, less than or equal to.
• Matching and counting strategies can be used to compare quantities (up to ten) of two groups.

Skills students will use:

• Count to tell the number of objects; (Grade K, Unit 1 and Unit 2)
• Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; (Grade K, Unit 1 and Unit 2)
• Connect counting to cardinality; (Grade K, Unit 1 and Unit 2 )
• Count to tell how many; (Grade K, Unit 3)
• Understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted (cardinality) (Grade K, Unit 2 )

Students engage in Mathematical Practice 2 (Reason abstractly and quantitatively) as they apply their understanding of comparing  to determine if  a given set is equal to another set.  They also apply Mathematical Practice 6 (Attend to Precision) as they use correct compare language greater than, less than and equal to. Students may rely on counting, matching and visually looking as  strategies to support them as they compare the plates of cheezy snacks to Maya's.  

Key vocabulary:

• compare
• counting, counting sequence
• equal, equal to
• greater, greater than
• less, less than
• more, more than
• same, same as

Special materials needed:

• counters or other countable objects