Activity for ages 5 to 7.

This greater than, less than game is perfect for bug fans! Kids will love comparing creepy crawly sets of two-digit insects in this fun, free greater than, less than game.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

One of the most important math concepts for kids to grasp when dealing with two-digit numbers is that they are made up of groups of tens and ones. Children can learn numbers by rote but that doesn’t mean they truly understand what those numbers mean.

So teachers everywhere like children to practice putting objects into groups of ten and this greater than, less than game is no different! Rather than creating 10 strips of ten bugs for this game, each ‘decade’ has been kept as a group to encourage children’s brains to take a snapshot of what 30 ladybugs or 50 ants look like.

Getting Ready

There are detailed instructions in the Greater Than, Less Than Game printable but, in a snapshot, simply print off the game mat, bugs and bug number houses in either color or black and white {HERE}. Cut them apart, laminate if you wish and you’re ready to go!

If you want to turn it into a file folder game, it will store really nicely and a cover has been included for this option. Simply cut the folder to a good size, glue in the mat and attach the baggies with double-sided tape.

Greater Than, Less Than Game

Kids randomly choose 2 bug number houses and place them at the top of the mat. Sorting through the bugs, they find the right number to place underneath and then visually compare the 2 groups of bugs. Deciding which side is greater than and which side is less than, they add the correct < or > jars to the mat. It’s good for them to say the completed equation out loud, for example, “42 is greater than 36.”

To play in pairs, one child can create the number on the left and the other child the number on the right. Then they can decide together which one is greater than, or less than, the other.

If you don’t want to use a mat it’s no problem. In fact each child can store their own bugs and numbers in a small envelope and pull them out when they’re ready to do some number work.

Curriculum Standards

Being able to understand and compare two-digit numbers using tens and ones is a requirement of both the US Common Core (1.NBT.3) and the Australian Curriculum (ACMNA014) for Grade 1. In other words, it’s a great skill to practice!

Grab Your Set

Grab your Greater Than, Less Than Game {HERE} and then check out our huge collection of free printables including our popular alphabet activity pack and free ttelling time activity.

Playdough to Plato is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.