Roly-Poly Math: Solving Comparison Word Problems!

Math Grades 1st Grade 3:13 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how to solve math problems where we compare two numbers, like figuring out who has more or less of something! We'll use drawings and easy math to find the answers.

Video Resource

Comparison word problems: roly-polies | Addition and subtraction | 1st grade | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 3:13
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Key Concepts

  • Comparison Word Problems
  • More Than/Less Than
  • Addition and Subtraction within 10 and 20

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to solve comparison word problems using addition and subtraction.
  • Students will be able to identify whether a problem requires addition or subtraction based on the 'more than' or 'less than' relationship.
  • Students will be able to represent word problems using drawings and equations.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they know what a roly-poly is. Briefly discuss what 'more than' and 'less than' mean using simple examples (e.g., 'I have 2 crayons, and you have one more than me. How many do you have?').
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Watch the Khan Academy video 'Comparison word problems: roly-polies'. Encourage students to pay attention to how Sal solves the problems and the strategies he uses.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    Work through the roly-poly problem and the box problem from the video again, pausing at each step. Ask students questions like: 'Does Dingane have more or less than Lea? How do we know?' and 'What number sentence can we write to solve this problem?' Encourage students to draw pictures to represent the problems.
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Present the following word problems for students to solve independently or in pairs. Encourage them to draw pictures and write number sentences: 1. Sarah has 6 stickers. Michael has 2 less stickers than Sarah. How many stickers does Michael have? 2. Tom has 4 toy cars. Emily has 3 more toy cars than Tom. How many toy cars does Emily have? 3. A blue basket has 5 apples. A red basket has 3 more apples than the blue basket. How many apples are in the red basket?
  • Wrap-up (3 mins)
    Review the key concepts from the lesson. Ask students what strategies they found helpful in solving comparison word problems. Preview the next lesson on related topics.

Interactive Exercises

  • Number Line Fun
    Use a number line to visually represent 'more than' and 'less than'. For example, if the problem is '5 is 2 more than what number?', start at 5 and move 2 spaces to the left to find the answer (3).
  • Act It Out
    Use manipulatives (e.g., counters, blocks) to act out the word problems. This provides a concrete way for students to understand the relationships between the numbers.

Discussion Questions

  • What are some clues in word problems that tell you whether to add or subtract?
  • How can drawing pictures help you solve word problems?
  • Can you think of a time when you've used 'more than' or 'less than' in real life?

Skills Developed

  • Problem-solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Number Sense
  • Visual Representation

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Lily has 4 dolls. Ben has 1 more doll than Lily. How many dolls does Ben have?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 2:

A blue car has 5 wheels. A red car has 1 less wheel. How many wheels does the red car have?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 3:

Tim has 3 balloons. Sara has 2 more balloons than Tim. How many balloons does Sara have?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 4:

Kim has 7 flowers. Joe has 3 less flowers than Kim. How many flowers does Joe have?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 5:

What does 'more than' mean?

Correct Answer: bigger

Question 6:

What does 'less than' mean?

Correct Answer: less

Question 7:

Tina has 8 marbles. Mark has one LESS marble than Tina. How many does Mark have?

Correct Answer: 7

Question 8:

Which of these means you need to ADD?

Correct Answer: plus

Question 9:

Which of these means you need to SUBTRACT?

Correct Answer: less than

Question 10:

Leo has 2 cookies. Mia has 5 cookies. How many MORE cookies does Mia have than Leo?

Correct Answer: 3

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

If 5 is one more than a number, the number is ____.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 2:

If 3 is one less than a number, the number is ____.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 3:

More than means to ____.

Correct Answer: add

Question 4:

Less than means to ____.

Correct Answer: subtract

Question 5:

6 is two more than ____.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 6:

9 is three less than ____.

Correct Answer: 12

Question 7:

If I have 7 apples, and you have 2 MORE than me, you have ____ apples.

Correct Answer: 9

Question 8:

If I have 10 blocks, and you have 3 LESS than me, you have ____ blocks.

Correct Answer: 7

Question 9:

8 is ____ more than 5.

Correct Answer: 3

Question 10:

2 is ____ less than 6.

Correct Answer: 4

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1:Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.D.8:Determine the unknown whole number in an addition or subtraction equation relating three whole numbers. For example, determine the unknown number that makes the equation true in each of the equations 8 + ? = 11, 5 = _ - 3, 6 + 6 = _. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6:Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 - 4 = 13 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 - 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13).

Teaching Materials

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