Practice Comparing and Ordering Numbers with This Christmas Math Activity

This hands-on activity gets children comparing and ordering numbers using Gum Drops, ten frames, and Gingerbread House. Perfect for a Christmas Math Center.

This is day two of our Seven Days Of Christmas. See what other free Christmas printables are available HERE. 

Helping our children develop number sense is one of the best gifts we can give them. With number sense, children are more likely to not only succeed in math….but surprisingly like it. Math will make sense to them, and therefore much more fun.

One way we can develop number sense in our little guys is to give them as much exposure to numbers as possible. It is allowing them to count, use ten frames, compare numbers and order them. And this is what this activity is all about.

In this fun, Christmas activity children get to count out gum drops for numbers in the teens and then compare them using the famous alligator sign. Finally, they can put it all together by ordering gingerbread houses.

Prep – Work

With just a little cutting this comparing numbers activity is ready to be used.

First, print off the pages on card stock paper, and cut out.

Next, laminate the comparing cards. You can also laminate the house for extra durability.

Finally, grab some Gum Drops and Dry Erase Markers and you are ready to go.

Scotch Thermal Laminator, 2 Roller System, Fast Warm-up, Quick Laminating Speed (TL901C-T )Ferrara Candy Spice Drops (7.5Lb)EXPO Low-Odor Dry Erase Set, Chisel Tip, Assorted Colors, 8-Piece

 How to Use Comparing and Ordering Numbers Activity

To begin, the children will look at the number on the left (number recognition and one to one correspondence), and place that many Gum Drops in the first Gingerbread House.

Then, our little ones will look at the number on the right, and place that many Gum Drops in the second Gingerbread house.

Finally, our kiddos decide which number is greater, and draw the correct symbol on the card.

Once they have finished comparing the numbers between 10 and 20, there are number cards that the children can place in order. You can increase the challenge by taking a few numbers out. This way they are not simply counting. For example, you may take out 11, 16, and 19. So when they are ordering the numbers they are not just counting 10, 11, 12. Our little ones will have to recognize that 10 is smaller than 12, so 10 goes first.

Enjoying comparing and ordering these teen numbers with your kiddos.

You may also like:

This fun decomposing activity that helps children understand place value and what makes up a teen number.

If you are ready to focus on number past 20, this hands-on packet will help your children develop place value.

Or this no-prep place value packet that focuses on learning what tens and ones are and comparing numbers.

Alfie the Alligator: A Teaching Rhyme About Comparing NumbersRoscoe Learning 124 Piece Magnetic Numbers and Counters Math Skills SetBalancing Bears: Comparing Numbers (Count the Critters)