Place value within 10 - Compare objects - Planning

In the third week of the Autumn term, Year 1 students delve into place value by comparing objects up to 10. The lesson's primary resources include differentiated worksheets, teaching slides, and concrete materials like base 10 blocks and counters. The key vocabulary terms—compare, objects, equal, more, less, most, least, fewer, equal to, greater than, and less than—are crucial to the lesson, and children are encouraged to visit the website for vocabulary cards and definitions. The lesson starts with a recap of previous learning, where children are reminded to use comparative language to distinguish between groups of objects, without necessarily quantifying the difference. The objective is to understand the concepts of greater than, less than, and equality. Partner work is encouraged to foster discussion and the use of full sentences in explaining their reasoning. Activities in the presentation guide children through the vocabulary associated with comparing quantities, and independent activities are provided through differentiated worksheets to cater to various levels of understanding.

As the lesson progresses, children continue to practice comparing groups of objects, drawing counters on worksheets to represent more or less than a given number. They also consolidate their understanding of 'equal to' through practical work with images and resources, using word cards to form statements. Reasoning and problem-solving activities challenge children to consider multiple correct answers and the concept of equality. Key questions prompt them to think about how they can tell which group has the least or most and what the comparative language signifies. Misconceptions are addressed, particularly the idea that there is only one correct answer and the tendency to overlook equality. The lesson concludes with a reflective 'Give me five' activity, where students express what they've learned, the skills they've used, and what they found challenging. Differentiated worksheets are designed to support children working towards expected levels and those aiming for greater depth, with activities ranging from circling the correct answer to filling in blank boxes with the correct number of circles to represent counters, and answering true or false questions.