Fun Math Lesson: Less Than, Equal To, and Greater Than!
Hello, little mathematicians! Today, we are going to learn how to compare numbers using three special math symbols:
✅ Less than (<) – when a number is smaller
✅ Greater than (>) – when a number is bigger
✅ Equal to (=) – when two numbers are the same
These symbols help us compare numbers from 1 to 10 and see which one is bigger, smaller, or the same! Let’s make it fun with a little story.
🐊 Meet Mr. Chompy – The Hungry Alligator!
There once was a very hungry alligator named Mr. Chompy 🐊. He was always looking for the biggest meal because he wanted to stay strong. But Mr. Chompy had a funny way of eating—he would always open his mouth toward the bigger number!
Let’s see how he eats!
1️⃣ Greater Than (>) – Mr. Chompy Eats the Bigger Number!
If we compare two numbers and one is bigger, Mr. Chompy turns his mouth toward the big number.
Example: 7 > 3
👉 Mr. Chompy sees 7 and 3. Since 7 is bigger, he opens his mouth like this: 7 > 3. Chomp!
Try this one: Which number will Mr. Chompy eat?
6 __ 2 🤔 (That’s right! 6 is bigger, so we write 6 > 2!)
2️⃣ Less Than (<) – Mr. Chompy Still Eats the Bigger Number!
If the smaller number comes first, Mr. Chompy still wants to eat the bigger one. His mouth will open toward the bigger number.
Example: 2 < 5
👉 Mr. Chompy sees 2 and 5. Since 5 is bigger, his mouth opens toward 5: 2 < 5. Chomp!
Try this one: Which number is bigger?
1 __ 10 (Yes! 10 is bigger, so we write 1 < 10!)
3️⃣ Equal To (=) – No Chomping!
When two numbers are the same, Mr. Chompy doesn’t eat at all because he can’t decide which number is bigger. Instead, we use the equal sign (=) to show they are the same.
Example: 4 = 4
👉 Since both numbers are the same, Mr. Chompy just smiles and rests.
Try this one: Are these numbers the same?
9 __ 9 (Yes! We write 9 = 9 because they are equal.)
🎲 Practice Time!
Let’s practice some more! Fill in the blanks with <, >, or =.
1️⃣ 5 __ 8
2️⃣ 3 __ 3
3️⃣ 10 __ 7
4️⃣ 2 __ 9
5️⃣ 6 __ 6
Awesome job, little mathematicians! 🎉 Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be a pro at comparing numbers. Remember, Mr. Chompy always eats the bigger number! 🐊 Happy learning!
Don’t forget to download our worksheet to practice. You can also find lots of similar worksheets on our website.
Download the worksheet for free HERE