KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

PROFESSIONAL SEMESTER PROGRAM
LESSON PLAN FORMAT
Teacher Candidate: Katie Shields
Date:
Cooperating Teacher:
Coop. Initials:
Group Size:
Grade Level: 1st Grade
Subject or Topic: Numbers and Operations in Base Ten: Comparing Three-Digit Numbers
Section:

Time:

STANDARD: (Common Core):

CC.2.1.2.B.1 Use place value concepts to represent amounts of tens and ones and to compare threedigit numbers.
I.

Performance Objectives (Learning Outcomes):

A. The students will be able to compare two three-digit numbers by solving problems
correctly using the <, >, and = signs.
B. The students will be able to explain if two three-digit numbers are greater than, less
than, or equal to each other by solving word problems correctly.

II. Instructional Materials:

Just Enough Carrots by Stuart J. Murphy
Alfie the Alligator Rhyme Board
Blackboard
Chalk
Alligator Mouths (2 for each child)
Boards (enough for each child plus extra)
Flash Cards with Three-Digit Numbers
Long Paper Strips (enough for 3 for each child plus extra)
Markers
Base-Ten Blocks
Board Games
Board Game Pieces for each player
Cards for Board Game
Exit Slip
iPads
II.

Subject Matter/ Content (prerequisite skills, key vocabulary, big idea):

A. Prerequisite Skills
a. Problem Solving Strategies
b. Understanding of hundreds, tens, and ones
B. Key Vocabulary
a. Compare
b. Greater than
c. Less than
d. Equal to
e. Hundreds
f. Tens
g. Ones
C. Big Ideas

a.
b.

Solving problems by comparing two three-digit numbers using the <, >, and
= signs.
Solving problems by comparing two three-digit numbers by writing
sentences using the vocab: greater than, less than, and equal to.

IV. Implementation:
A. Introduction

1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.

Teacher will read the book Just Enough Carrots by Stuart J.

Murphy. Teacher will discuss the terms fewer, more, and same
and relate them to greater than, less than, and equal to.
Today, we are going to learn about Alfie the Alligator! Alfie is a
very hungry alligator but the special thing about Alfie is that he
only eats numbers!
Remember in the book we just read that the rabbit really likes
carrots so he wants more. This is the way Alfie thinks about big
numbers! He loves numbers so he always wants to eat more!
Teacher will show the students the Alfie the Alligator Rhyme.
Alfie the Alligator likes to munch, juicy numbers for his lunch.
Small numbers make his belly sore. Big numbers make him
shout for more! When Alfie the Alligator takes a bite, large
numbers feed his appetite!
They will repeat the rhyme together.
When we are really hungry, we want to eat more rather than less
so we choose more food rather than less food.
Teacher will model a greater than problem on the board using
two two-digit numbers and the greater than alligator mouth.

B. Development
1. Teacher will review the words greater than, less than, and equal to.
2. When you compare three-digit numbers, which place do you start with,
hundreds, tens, or ones? Hundreds because hundreds are greater than tens and
ones. Tens are greater than ones. Teacher will model this on the board.
3. How do we know that 132 is greater than 123? The hundreds are the same,
but three tens is more than two tens so 132 is the greater number. We always
start on the left and then move to the right. Teacher will model with base 10
blocks.
4. We are going to practice together. Remember that Alfie only eats big numbers!
5. Teacher will show examples on the board and students will answer if it is
greater than, less than, or equal to and tell the teacher which way the alligator
mouth should be open.
6. Now, you are going to practice in pairs.
7. Teacher will pass out boards, flash cards, and alligator mouths.
8. Students will flip over two flash cards and place them on the appropriate spot
on the board. They will then decide which alligator mouth to put on the board.
9. After some practice, students will be asked to put their boards away.
10. Teacher will pass out long paper strips and markers.
11. Students will be doing this activity alone.
12. Students will be asked to flip over two flash cards and place one on each end of
the paper strips. They will then have to write is greater than, is less than, or is
equal to on their paper strips. The teacher will be walking around and
observing if the students are grasping the concept.
13. If students need more practice, they can repeat the past two activities using

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21.

C.

base ten blocks instead of flash cards.

Teacher will break the class up in to groups of three or four.
Teacher will pass out the alligator board game.
The board game will have directions and pieces with it.
Students will flip over two cards and place them on the appropriate spots on the
board.
They will then have to decide which sign should go in the middle of two
numbers.
They will move their game piece to the next spot that has that sign on it.
Students will play the board game until they all reach the end.
Teacher will be walking around and observing the students to make sure they
are playing by the rules and to help any struggling students.

Closure
1.
2.
3.
4.

1.
2.
3.

Teacher will grab the class attention and review again by modeling with
the numbers 243 and 257.
Students may then go back to finishing their board games.
Once students are finished with their board game, they will be given an exit
slip with comparing numbers questions on it.
If there is still time left after they complete their exit slip, the students may
find a place in the room to either practice on the boards with flash cards or
base ten blocks, play the board game again, or use the iPads to play
Raceway Number Values.
http://www.abcya.com/comparing_number_values_jr.htm

5. Accommodations / Differentiation
Copy of Alfie the Alligator Rhyme for student to keep.
Group students based on ability, behavioral issues, needs.
If a student can not write, have greater than, less than, and equal to written
out on cards for them so they can place them between the two numbers.

E. Assessment/Evaluation plan 1. Formative Students will be evaluated through informal

observations and interviewing while they are using the
boards and playing the board game. Student learning will
be checked by asking students how they found their
answer and if they can explain it using the words hundred,
tens, and ones. Teacher will record answers in classroom
journal.
-Students will be given an exit slip.
2. Summative n/a
V. Reflective Response:
A. Report of Students Performance in Terms of States Objectives (Reflection on students
performance written after lesson is taught, includes remediation for students who failed to
meet acceptable level of achievement)
B. Personal Reflection (Questions written before lesson is taught. Reflective answers to
questions recorded after lesson is taught.)

1. Is there a way I could have improved my lesson?

2. Did I provide my students with enough practice?
3. Were the students engaged?
4. Were my adaptations appropriate?
5. Did the students understand and grasp the concept of greater than, less than, and
equal to?
6. Did my students meet the objective?

VI. Resources (in APA format):

Computer game - http://www.abcya.com/comparing_number_values_jr.htm

Murphy, S.J. (1997) Just Enough Carrots. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Rationale for Adaptations:

I added a childrens book into my lesson because I think it is a fun and easy way
to get the children thinking about comparing numbers. It also worked really well because
the book focuses on food and I tailored my lesson to have students think of numbers as
food. I think it added a real life dimension to my lesson because students can relate to
choosing food and how much food. If they are really hungry, they will choose more food
rather than less. It applies what they are learning to their lives so they can see how math
is used in everyday life.
I used alligators as a simple way to show students the greater than, less than, and
equal to symbols. I think it made the lesson cute and engaging for students but still
served its purpose. Students will be able to see that the alligators mouth should be open
to the number it wants to eat. I really liked the rhyme I used and I would hang it up in
my classroom for them to look at and reinforce my lesson. It is easy to remember and I
think it will really help the students.
I added a board game to my lesson because I think it is a really fun way to
practice their comparing skills. It helps them to understand why the alligator eats the
bigger number because it is greater than the other number. It helps them make a real life
connection that they will understand. They will look at is as a game rather than just
work. They will do this in groups so they will get to help each other in a social
environment.
I added a computer game for if the students have extra time because it is
something that will be fun for them and also reinforce what they have been learning.
They will have to choose the correct sign (<, >, or =) to move ahead in the game. This is
the same as the board game but technology based. Some students may prefer the
computer game versus the board game, especially if they do not like competitive games.
The game gives them motive to decide if a number is greater than, less than, or equal to
the other number. They have to apply what they have learned to win the game. They
make connections between the numbers.