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Lesson 2

2nd Grade Mathematics — Building with Numbers — Place Value and Measurement

Comparing Numbers — Greater Than, Less Than, Equal To

Memory Verse "He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." — Psalm 147:4 (NIV)

Learning Objective

Students will compare two-digit and three-digit numbers using greater than, less than, and equal to symbols.

Lesson Content

When we compare two numbers, we figure out which one is bigger, which is smaller, or if they are the same.

We use special symbols: > means greater than, < means less than, and = means equal to. Think of the > and < symbols as a hungry alligator that always wants to eat the bigger number!

To compare numbers, start with the biggest place value first. Compare 347 and 289: look at the hundreds first. 3 hundreds is more than 2 hundreds, so 347 > 289.

God knows the exact number of every star in the sky. He is so great that He can count things we cannot even imagine! Numbers help us understand more about His amazing world.

Hands-On Activity

Write pairs of numbers on cards. Use the symbols >, <, or = to compare each pair. Try these: 56 and 65, 123 and 132, 200 and 200, 458 and 399.

Discussion Questions

  • How do you decide which number is greater when two numbers have the same hundreds digit?
  • Can you think of things God made that are too many to count?
  • Why is comparing numbers a useful skill?
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