Teaching Less Than And Greater Than: Back-To-School Tip #28

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Chomper, the Alligator Alligobbler To The Rescue!

Less than and greater than can be confusing symbols to a young child.  Make it fun and easy to understand with Chomper my alligator-alligobbler.

teaching more than and less than, teaching greater than and less than, alligators, back to school ideas, number fun, math games, Here’s how:
  • Buy a pack of self-seal long green envelopes.
  • Children peel and stick the envelope shut.
  • Make a V-template.
  • teaching greater than and less than, teaching more than and less than, math games, fun math activities, alligators, Using the V-template, students trace the V and then cut it out.
  • To expedite things, this can be pre-done for young children
  • Run off the “jaws” of Chomper on several sheets of white cardstock.
  • Students carefully cut the upper and lower jaws out.
  • Using a glue stick, children run a stripe along the top V of the envelope-mouth of the alligator and then press on the top row of teeth.
  • They do the same thing for the bottom row.
  • Students cut out the half circle of Chomper’s eye and glue it to the top of the “head”.
  • Give students a large wiggle eye and a thick glue dot.
  • Students glue the wiggle eye on top of the green ½-circle “orb”.
  • Run off a set of “Alligobbler” labels and give each student a sticker to place on the back of their Chomper.
  • Students write their name above the label in plural-possessive form.
  • Run off a set of number tiles in different colors.
  • Each student needs two sets so that they can play at home.
  • Children cut out their tiles.
Click on the link to view/print Chomper the Alligobbler directions and patterns.

 alligators, teaching more than and less than, teaching greater than and less than, fun math activities, math games, back to school ideas, How to play the game.

  • When children face a partner and they look at the opposite alligator, it will be a “less than” alligator.  They will have a “more than” alligator.
  • Children stack one set of colored cards making sure that it is not the same color as their opponent.
  •  Students place the cards face down.
  • Decide who goes first.
  •  Both children flip over a number card.
  • If it is child A’s turn, she looks at the two numbers and decides which is more than and takes that number, saying the equation: “5 is more than 3.”
  • The other child takes the 3.
  • Now it is child B’s turn.
  • Both children flip a number.
  • Child B is looking at her alligobbler which is also “more than” to her,  so she will take the greatest number.
  • If she’d like to take a smaller number, she can flip her alligobbler over so she is looking at a “less than” symbol “mouth and say that equation and take that number.
  • Play ends when all of the numbers are gone.
  • Children spill the number tiles Chomper has eaten, back onto the table and sort them by color, giving each other their own cards back.

Do you have a math tip you'd like to share?  I'd enjoy hearing from you.  diane@teachwithme.com

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