If your students are struggling with how to compare numbers, I have a really quick strategy that always worked for me in the classroom. And guess what? It’s incredibly simple! All you need is an activity and printable charts for your students.
This standard requires students to:
- 4th grade: Compare two multi-digit numbers based on meanings of the digits in each place, using >, =, and < symbols to record the results of comparisons.
- 5th grade: Compare two decimals to thousandths based on meanings of the digits in each place, using >, =, and < symbols to record the results of comparisons.
Watch the videos below to see how you can illustrate and review this standard with your students.
4.NBT.2. Comparing Whole Numbers
Resources are from my Interactive Place Value Chart and 4th Grade Place Value Activities.
5.NBT.3b. Comparing Decimals
Resources are from my Interactive Place Value Chart and 5th Grade Place Value Activities.
Having an interactive place value chart is helpful with this skill because students can quickly find the greatest place value where the digits differ. They can easily slip the charts into a dry erase pocket (*aff link) to use while working on classwork to show their thinking.
Having the resources ready to go is also incredibly helpful. I laminated and stored each place value activity into a file folder with printouts of student recording sheets so that I could just grab them easily and use them as centers or for interventions with small groups or individual students.
Need a resource to help clearly introduce this skill? I have a printable and digital resource available that includes detailed notes, practice, exit ticets, and a quiz.
Shop the Resources from The Videos
*Please note that the 3rd Grade Place Value resources below do not cover this standard*
