Which group has more, fewer, or the same
In kindergarten, children learn to tell whether one group of objects is greater than, less than, or equal to another, by matching the objects up or by counting each group.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
Try these with your child
These are real questions from our kindergarten practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
You and your friend each have 7 stickers. Who has more?
- You
- You both have the same
- Your friend
Why this matters
Comparing groups helps your child answer a question they will meet all through math: which is more, and by how much? It leads straight to comparing written numbers like 7 and 9, and in 1st grade to comparing two-digit numbers and saying how many more one group has, an early form of subtraction. Matching objects in pairs also helps your child trust a count when a spread-out group looks bigger than it is.
Where kids can get stuck
- Judging by length, so a long row of 6 pebbles seems to have more than a tight row of 8.
- Counting both groups correctly, getting 7 and 9, then naming the wrong group as greater.
- Treating "greater" as physically bigger, so 4 large toys seem greater than 6 small ones.
How you can help
- Put a spoon next to each bowl at dinner and ask whether there are more spoons, more bowls, or the same number, and how they can tell.
- Grab two handfuls of pasta shapes and have your child line them up in pairs to find out which handful has more and by how many.
- Count the red cars and the blue cars that pass during a short walk, then decide together which color had more or whether they were equal.
The kid-friendly video below explains it in a few minutes, and Bobby's Math Club offers free practice that grows with your child.
Kid-friendly explanation
Questions parents ask
Why does my child compare groups by matching them up?
Matching objects in pairs lets your child see exactly which group has more and how many are left over. This is especially helpful when groups look different, such as a spread-out row and a tight cluster. Seeing the leftovers builds trust in comparing by counting, which becomes your child's faster method over time.
My child thinks the bigger objects mean more. How can I help?
Young children often compare by what they see, such as size or how much space a group takes up. Try lining up the two groups one-to-one, so each object has a partner, and see which group has objects left without partners. Counting each group aloud also helps. Your child will gradually learn to look at how many, not how big.
What comes next after comparing groups?
Next, kindergartners compare written numbers between 1 and 10 without needing objects. In 1st grade, they compare two-digit numbers using the symbols for greater than, less than, and equal to, and solve problems about how many more or fewer one group has than another.
Make learning math fun
Bobby's Math Club turns kindergarten math practice into something fun to do together.
- Unlimited practice, completely free
- Questions matched to your child’s level, a few minutes a day
- Hints when they are stuck, and a celebration when it clicks
Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
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Join the clubNote for teachers: This skill is covered by Common Core math standard K.CC.C.6: “Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.” Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow. (Common Core K.CC.6)