Comparing Numbers

Comparing Numbers

We have been comparing numbers in class using symbols and place value.

=	When two values are equal, we use the "equals" sign	example: 2+2 = 4
<	When one value is smaller than another, we can use a "less than" sign.	example: 3 < 5
>	When one value is bigger than another, we can use a "greater than" sign	example: 9 > 6

Less Than and Greater Than

The "less than" sign and the "greater than" sign look like a "V" on its side, don't they?

To remember which way around the "<" and ">" signs go, just remember:

• BIG > small
• small < BIG

The "small" end always points to the smaller number, like this:

                                      Greater Than Symbol: BIG > small

We use place value to help us compare numbers. We always look at the largest PLACE VALUE to determine which digit in the largest place value is larger or smaller. If the digits are the same, we move to the next place value. We continue this until we determine whether the numbers are greater than, less than, or equal to each other.

Here are a couple of videos that explain the process:

Study Jams Ordering Whole Numbers

Study Jams Number Lines

Comparing and Ordering Numbers to the Billions Place

Comparing Multi-Digit Numbers

Comparing and Ordering Whole Numbers

Here are some fun games that have you practicing these skills (be sure to click on the higher levels for the larger numbers):

Fruit Splat Comparing Numbers

Balloon Pop Ordering Numbers

Decimals

Decimals

We have been working on decimals this week. We go to the hundredths place, but are aware that there are more decimal place values.

We will be able to illustrate decimals,

Compare and order decimals,

And relate decimals to money.

We will also practice writing them in standard form, word form, expanded form, and expanded notation.

Standard form: 31.25

Word form: thirty two and twenty-five hundredths

Expanded form: 30 + 1 + 0.2 + 0.05

Expanded notation: (3 x 10) + (1 x 1) + (2 x 0.1) + (5 x 0.01) or  3(10) + 1(1) + 2(0.1) + 5(0.01) 

Here are some of the anchor charts we use in class to help us with decimals:

        

Here are some fun songs that can help us remember all the place values that we are working with:

Place Value "Shake It Off" Parody

Place Value Rap

Decimals Song

Place Value Song

Here are some Study Jams videos that may help as well. Take the quiz after to see how you're doing!

Study Jams Place Value of Decimals

Study Jams Compare Money Amounts

Study Jams Decimals on a Number Line

Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a great week!

The Power of Ten

The Power of Ten

The Power of 10 is a concept we need to continue to work on. :)

Power of 10 - each place in a place value chart has a value that is 10 times as great as the place value to its right and 1/10th the size of the place value to the left.

When we write numbers, the position (or "place") of each digit
is important.

In the number 327:

·         the "7" is in the Units/Ones position, meaning just 7 (or 7 "1"s),

·         the "2" is in the Tens position meaning 2 tens (or twenty),

·         and the "3" is in the Hundreds position, meaning 3 hundreds.

"Three Hundred Twenty Seven"

	As we move left, each position is 10 times bigger!
	Example: Hundreds are 10 times bigger than Tens

... and ...

As we move right, each position is 10 times smaller.
From Hundreds, to Tens, to Units/Ones

But what if we continue past Units/Ones? What is 10 times smaller than Units/Ones?

¹/₁₀ ths (Tenths) are!

But we must first write a decimal point, so we know exactly where the Units position is:

"three hundred twenty seven and four tenths"

Here are some games to practice this skill:

Power of Ten Card Games

Power of Ten Practice

We will continue to work on this concept in small group. Let me know if you need any help!

Matter

Matter

It is very important for elementary students to develop an understanding of matter. Young learners typically have an understanding of solids and liquids as matter, but they may need some support in grasping that air is also matter. Your kiddo may also struggle to understand that “soft" solids like powder, cloth, and paper are solids.

Your kiddo has been learning about the properties of matter. Provide them with some opportunities to measure the following properties:

● Size (Use a ruler to measure height, width, and length.)

● Mass (At this level, it is appropriate to measure weight.)

● Volume (It is easier to measure powders and liquids than solids.)

● Temperature (Use a thermometer or record whether something feels warm or cool to the touch, exercising caution not to burn yourself.)

Provide your kiddo opportunities to measure and compare types of matter based on the properties listed above. Your child should also use the following questions to compare types of matter:

● What is the state of matter? (Is it a solid, a liquid, or a gas?)

● Is the matter magnetic? (Does the matter stick to a magnet?)

● Does the matter sink or float? (What do we notice when we put the matter in water?)

Pick some safe household objects (milk, sugar, paperclips, water, ice cubes, cloth, paper, etc.), and help your kiddo determine the state of matter, whether the object is magnetic, and whether the object sinks or floats.

Help your child understand that all states of water—solid, liquid, and gas—are water. The water particles are the same in each state, but the way those particles move around are different depending on whether they are being heated or cooled.

We will be conducting many experiments this unit. Keep asking your kiddo what they know about matter!

Check out this Crash Course Kids Video:

What's Matter?

Here are some matter games you can play:

Matter Sort

States of Matter

Matter Games

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Place Value

Place Value

We are working on place value this unit in Math. We go all the way up to the billions place and down to the hundredths place. Here are some definitions that might help during our unit on place value:

Place value – the value of a digit as determined by its location in a number such as ones, tens, hundreds, one thousands, ten thousands, etc.

Standard notation – the representation of a number using digits (e.g., 985,156,789.78)

Written notation – the representation of a number using written words (e.g., 985,156,789.78 as nine hundred eighty-five million, one hundred fifty-six thousand, seven hundred eighty-nine and seventy-eight hundredths)

Expanded Form - a way to write numbers by adding the value of its digits. Example: 1,000 + 900 + 50 + 4 = 1,954.

Expanded Notation - writing a number to show the value of each digit. It is shown as a sum of each digit multiplied by its matching place value (units, tens, hundreds, etc.) For example: 4,265 = (4 x 1,000) + (2 x 100) + (6 x 10) + (5 x 1) or 4,265 = 4(1,000) + 2(100) + 6(10) + 5(1) or 4,265 = 4(1,000) + 2(100) + 6(10) + 5(1).

Powers of 10 - each place in a place value chart has a value that is 10 times as great as the place value to its right and 1/10th the size of the place value to the left.

Here are some other ways that you can work on math at home:

Identify patterns in the real world – We have found all kinds of patterns when looking at the multiples of numbers. Talk with your child about patterns they may see in the world. These could be geometric patterns, number patterns, growth patterns, etc.

Play “Race for $1” – Our class will play a game called “Race for a Hundred” using base ten blocks. This game can be adapted to play with money. For two players, all that is needed are about 25 pennies, 25 dimes, one dollar bill, and a die. Take turns rolling the die. The number indicates how many pennies to draw. As a player collects 10 pennies, he/she should trade for a dime. Play continues until someone can trade ten dimes for one dollar. Talk about the relationship of pennies to dimes, dimes to dollars and pennies to dollars. Can your child explain in terms of 10 times as much or 1/10 the amount?

Questions to ask: Describe the relationship between each of the places on the place value chart. (For example, the tens place is ten times greater than the ones place because it takes ten ones to make one ten or the tens place is one-tenth the size of the hundreds place.)

Here are some videos that will help explain place value:

Study Jams Place Value

Study Jams Expanded Notation

Study Jams Number Lines

Here is a fun game to help solidify some of the place values:

Place Value Millionaire

Place Value Headings

Here is a fun place value song to check out:

All About That Place (Value)

Please let me know if you have any questions!