Compare Attributes

Kindergarten · measurement · 100 practice problems · read aloud

🔊 Listen to this explanation

Comparing Attributes: Taller, Shorter, Heavier, Lighter

What is Comparing? 🤔

Comparing means looking at two things to see which one has more or less of something. We can compare how tall, heavy, or long things are. This helps us describe and understand the world around us!

How to Compare: Step-by-Step

  1. Look: Pick the two things you want to compare.
  2. Choose an Attribute: Decide what you are comparing (like height or weight).
  3. Find the Difference: See which one is more and which one is less.
  4. Say the Sentence: Use words like "The tree is taller than the flower."

Let's Look at Examples

Example 1: Height

Look at a giraffe 🦒 and a rabbit 🐇.

Step 1: We are comparing height.

Step 2: The giraffe reaches much higher.

Answer: The giraffe is taller than the rabbit.

Example 2: Weight

Look at a feather 🪶 and a book 📚.

Step 1: We are comparing weight.

Step 2: The book is harder to lift.

Answer: The book is heavier than the feather.

Watch Out! Common Mistakes

Mixing Up Words: Sometimes kids say "shorter" when they mean "taller." Remember: Taller means more up high. Shorter means less up high.

Forgetting to Compare the Same Thing: Make sure you are comparing the same attribute! Don't compare how tall one thing is to how heavy another thing is.

Fun Tips & Tricks

🖐️ Use Your Hands: Make a tall tower with your hands for "taller" and a short space for "shorter."

⚖️ Think of a See-Saw: The heavier thing goes down, and the lighter thing goes up!

👯 Line Them Up: When you can, put two things next to each other. The one that sticks out more is taller or longer.

Time to Practice!

  • Look around your room. Find something heavier than your shoe.
  • Compare your toys. Which toy is shorter than your others?
  • At snack time, compare two pieces of food. Which one is longer?

Practice problems

6 of the 100, worked through step by step — try them before opening the answer.

1 8 + 5 = ?

Hint: Start with the first number and count up.

Show the answer

Answer: 13

  1. Start with the first number: 8.
  2. Add the second number, 5, to 8. We can break 5 into 2 and 3 to make adding easier: 8 + 2 = 10, and we have 3 left from the 5.
  3. Add the remaining 3 to 10: 10 + 3 = 13. So, 8 + 5 = 13.

We are adding 8 and 5.

2 12 - 4 = ?

Hint: Count backwards from the first number to find the difference

Show the answer

Answer: 8

  1. Start with 12
  2. Subtract 4 by counting backwards: 12, 11, 10, 9, 8
  3. 12 - 4 = 8

The answer is 8.

3 Which is taller: a 7-foot tree or a 12-foot tree?

Hint: Think about which number is bigger when you measure how tall something is.

Show the answer

Answer: 12-foot tree

  1. Look at the two heights: 7 feet and 12 feet.
  2. Compare the numbers: 12 is greater than 7.
  3. The tree that is 12 feet tall is taller than the tree that is 7 feet tall.

The answer is the 12-foot tree.

4 Which is heavier: a 13-pound cat or a 7-pound cat?

Hint: Think about which number is bigger. A heavier thing has a bigger number when you weigh it.

Show the answer

Answer: the 13-pound cat

  1. Look at the weights: one cat is 13 pounds, the other cat is 7 pounds.
  2. Compare the numbers 13 and 7. 13 is greater than 7.
  3. The cat with the larger number is heavier.

The answer is the 13-pound cat.

5 Which is heavier: a 14-pound cat or a 9-pound dog?

Hint: Think about which number is bigger. A heavier thing has a bigger number when you weigh it.

Show the answer

Answer: the 14-pound cat

  1. Look at the weights. The cat weighs 14 pounds. The dog weighs 9 pounds.
  2. Compare the numbers 14 and 9. Since 14 is greater than 9, the cat is heavier.

The answer is the 14-pound cat.

6 Which is heavier: a 9-pound cat or a 16-pound dog?

Hint: Think about which number is bigger. The bigger number means more weight.

Show the answer

Answer: the 16-pound dog

  1. Look at the weights. The cat weighs 9 pounds. The dog weighs 16 pounds.
  2. Compare the numbers: 9 and 16.
  3. 16 is greater than 9.
  4. So the dog is heavier than the cat.

The answer is the 16-pound dog.

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