How to teach comparing size (bigger/smaller) to kindergarten

📚 Learning Objectives

• 🎯 Identify objects as bigger or smaller when compared to another.
• 🗣️ Use comparative language (e.g., "bigger than," "smaller than").
• 🤝 Apply the concept of size comparison in practical situations.

🖍️ Materials

• 🧸 Assorted objects of varying sizes (e.g., balls, blocks, books).
• 📏 Measuring tools (optional: rulers, yarn).
• 🖼️ Pictures or drawings of objects with different sizes.
• Worksheet with comparison exercises.
• Colored Pencils or Crayons.

☀️ Warm-up (5 mins)

• 🗣️ Verbal Introduction: Start by asking children about their experiences with size: "What's the biggest thing you've ever seen? What's the smallest?"
• 🖐️ Hand Gestures: Use your hands to demonstrate "big" and "small" – expand your arms wide for "big" and bring your fingers close together for "small."

🍎 Main Instruction

1. 🧸 Introduction with Concrete Objects

   • 🖐️ Show & Tell: Present two objects (e.g., a big book and a small book).
   • 🗣️ Describe: Clearly state, "This book is big. This book is small."
   • 🤝 Comparison: Ask, "Which book is bigger? Which book is smaller?" Encourage responses.
   • 🔄 Repeat: Repeat this process with different pairs of objects, varying the size difference for clarity.

2. 🖼️ Using Pictures

   • 🖼️ Visual Aid: Show pictures of familiar objects in different sizes (e.g., a big dog and a small dog).
   • ❓ Questioning: Ask, "Which dog is bigger? How do you know?"
   • ✍️ Worksheet Activity: Distribute a worksheet with pictures and have the children circle the bigger or smaller object, based on the instructions.

3. 📏 Measurement (Optional)

   • 🧶 Introduction: If appropriate for the class, introduce simple measurement using non-standard units like yarn or blocks.
   • 📏 Activity: Have the children measure the length or height of different objects and compare the measurements.
   • 🗣️ Language: Encourage them to use comparative language: "The table is longer than the chair."

4. 🎲 Games

   • 🎲 "Big or Small" Sorting Game: Prepare a set of objects or pictures. Have the children sort them into two groups: "Big" and "Small."
   • 🖐️ "I Spy" Game: Play "I Spy" using size as a clue: "I spy something bigger than a pencil."

📝 Assessment

• ✍️ Worksheet Review: Evaluate the children's ability to identify bigger and smaller objects on the worksheet.
• 🗣️ Verbal Responses: Assess their understanding through verbal questioning during activities.
• 🤝 Observation: Observe how they apply the concept of size comparison during playtime and other classroom activities.