Which group has more?

Two groups. Which has more? Look, do not count yet.

MathAges 3–415 minutes3 pagesEnglish textInk-light

Being written

This one is planned but not finished yet. Everything below is what it will contain.

Not drawn yet

I can tell which group has more without counting.

How the fifteen minutes go

The five steps on this sheet, in the order a child meets them. This is what you will actually be doing, not a description of the method.

Print the one that fits today. Same skill, three depths — and on this sheet they differ like this.

Support

Groups clearly different, 2 against 6.

Fewer items, more pictures, hints included, parent reads the instructions.

Core

Five pairs, including one equal pair.

The standard task, recognition, practice and explanation.

Challenge

Groups of the same count but very different sizes of object, so looking misleads and counting must win.

Open-ended. Explain why, make your own example, use it somewhere new.

The same guide that is printed on the back page, so you can read it before you decide to print anything.

The answers

1: right (5 v 3) · 2: left (6 v 2) · 3: the same (4 v 4) · 4: right (7 v 5) · 5: left (3 v 2)

If they get stuck

Pair them off physically, one from each group, until one side runs out. That is comparison without counting.

Common mistakes

Choosing the group that takes up more space rather than more items. This is the important error and worth engineering on purpose.
Refusing to accept 'the same'. Equality is a genuinely hard idea.

When they finish early

Two plates of grapes. Who has more? Then make them the same.