Which group has more? Which has fewer? And can you make a good guess of how many there are without counting? Let us find out!
More, fewer or the same
To compare two groups, line them up side by side. The group with things left over has more.
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There are 6 mangoes and 4 oranges. There are more mangoes. There are fewer oranges. 6 is 2 more than 4.
Putting numbers in order
We can put numbers in order from the smallest to the biggest: 3, 9, 14, 20. Or from the biggest to the smallest: 20, 14, 9, 3.
About how many? Estimating
To estimate means to make a good guess. A good helper is the number 10. First look at what 10 things look like. Then look at a new group. Is it less than 10, about 10, or more than 10? Then count to check!
TRY ITMore, less and about 10
Choose a game. Then tap your answer.
Let’s practise
Try each one. Then tap Show answer to check.
1. Which is more: 12 or 8?
Show answer
12.
2. Which is fewer: 5 cars or 9 cars?
Show answer
5 cars.
3. Tia has 7 sweets. Ravi has 7 sweets. Who has more?
Show answer
Neither. They have the same.
4. Order from smallest to biggest: 17, 4, 11
Show answer
4, 11, 17.
5. Order from biggest to smallest: 6, 19, 13
Show answer
19, 13, 6.
6. A jar has 18 marbles. Is that less than 10, about 10, or more than 10?
Show answer
More than 10.
Quick check
1. Is 15 more or less than 10?
Show answer
More.
2. How many more is 9 than 6?
Show answer
3 more.
3. What does “estimate” mean?
Show answer
To make a good guess of how many, and then check by counting.
Maths words
Say these words with a grown-up. Can you use each one in a sentence?
more · fewer · less · the same as · most · least · estimate · about · order
Try it at home
- Grab a handful of beans. Guess how many. Then count. Was your guess close?
- Make a group of 10 spoons. Use it to help you guess other groups.
- Compare two piles of clothes pegs by lining them up. Which pile has more?
For parents and teachers
After this lesson, your child should be able to:
- compare two groups and say which has more, fewer or the same
- order three numbers up to 20
- estimate how many are in a group using 10 as a helper, then check by counting
Praise good guesses, not just exact ones. The aim is a sensible estimate (“about 10”, “lots more than 10”), then counting to check.
Previous: Numbers 11 to 20 and the Number Line
Next: First to Tenth
Attributions to media used in this post:
Coconut Vendor, Marabella, Trinidad and Tobago.JPG – Kalamazadkhan – CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
© 2026 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved.