Compare and Order Whole Numbers Teaching Resources
Teach how to compare and order whole numbers this school year with printable worksheets, digital activities and more teacher-created resources.
Designed to help students understand the relative size of numbers and learn to arrange them in ascending or descending order, this collection of resources has everything you'll need to build your maths lesson plans!
Is this your first year teaching students how to compare whole numbers and order them? Or perhaps you are just looking for some quick tips to help you plan? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a look at the different maths comparison symbols!
What Is a Comparison Symbol in Maths? A Kid-Friendly Explanation
Key to teaching kids how to compare numbers is an explanation of the different comparison symbols that they can use to represent the relationships between different whole numbers.
There are three main comparison symbols or signs that we use in maths:
1. Greater Than Sign
The symbol > is known as the greater than sign in maths.
When the greater than sign is used to compare numbers, it tells us the number on the left is larger or greater than the number on the right.
2. Less Than Sign
The symbol < is known as the less than sign in maths.
When we are comparing whole numbers, we can use the less than sign to show that the number on the left is smaller or less than the number on the right.
3. Equal Sign
The final sign or symbol used when comparing whole numbers is known as the equal sign, and it looks like this: =.
We use an equal sign to express that two numbers are exactly the same or equal to one another.
How to Compare Whole Numbers — A Step-By-Step Guide for Kids
Now that we've looked at the different signs that are used when we're comparing whole numbers, how do you actually do it?
Here are some steps that kids can take!
1. Compare Digits at the Same Place Value
Start by comparing the digits at the same place value from left to right.
Look at the digits in the ones place first, then the tens place, hundreds place, and so on.
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Comparing Numbers Christmas Game
Have some Christmas maths fun with an interactive, self-checking comparing numbers game.
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Comparing and Ordering Numbers Game — Escape the Robot Invasion!
Play our comparing and ordering numbers game with your students to engage and educate at the same time.
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Numbers 1-20 Puzzle Pack
Identify and sequence the numbers from 1 to 20 with a set of Numbers 1-20 puzzles for kids.
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Ordering Large Numbers Worksheet Set
Share this ordering large numbers worksheet set with your students to evaluate their skill in ordering numbers from the thousands to the millions.
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Ordering Integers Activity — Task Cards
Introduce this ordering integers activity to your students to give them experience ordering positive and negative numbers.
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Number Order Puzzles (Ordering Numbers to 1200)
Give your students these number order puzzles for a fun way to sharpen their skills in ordering numbers up to 1200.
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Number Maze Worksheet Set (Ordering Numbers to 120)
Share this number maze worksheet set with your students for a fun way to practise ordering numbers to 120 from least to greatest.
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Maths Maze Worksheet Set (Ordering Numbers to 20)
Share this maths maze worksheet set with your students to give them practise ordering numbers from least to greatest.
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Which Is More? Counting Card Game
Compare and order collections up to 20 with this set of counting cards.
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Number Ordering Game (Numbers 1 - 10)
Play this number ordering game for a fun way to increase student skill in ordering numbers 1 - 10.
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Early Learning Maths Activity (Ordering Numbers)
Share this early learning maths activity with your students to give them practise ordering numbers 0 to 20 or 0 to 120.
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Ordering Numbers Worksheets — Dot Day Caterpillar
Share these ordering numbers worksheets with your students to help them master sequencing numbers.
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Number Talks - Comparing Numbers Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 24 task cards.
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Ordering Numbers 1 to 10 "To The Moon" Game
Play this ordering numbers 1 to 10 game with your students for a fun way to practise ordering numbers up to 10.
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Missing Number Activity (Ordering Numbers)
Use this missing number activity to take your students on an engaging ordering numbers hunt!
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Ordering Numbers Cut-and-Paste Worksheets
Give students our ordering numbers cut-and-paste worksheets for a fun way to practise ordering numbers 1 through 100.
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Number Ordering Worksheet Set (Dot-to-Dot)
Share these dot-to-dot number ordering worksheet sets with your students to give them an engaging way to practise ordering two and three-digit numbers.
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Ordering Large Numbers Sorting Activity
Practise ordering large numbers with this easy-to-prepare sorting activity.
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Ordering Two-Digit Numbers Task Cards (Numbers 1 - 120)
Utilise these Ordering Two-Digit Numbers Task Cards in a unit on comparing and ordering numbers to 120.
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Comparing Two Digit Numbers — Clash Game for Year 1
Practise comparing two-digit numbers with the help of this year 1 board game.
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Comparing 3-Digit Numbers – Self-Checking Interactive Activity
Practise comparing 3-digit numbers with this self-checking interactive activity.
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Comparing Three-digit Numbers – Worksheet
Practise comparing three-digit numbers with this hands-on worksheet.
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Maths Mazes (Number Sequencing)
Skip count your way through these mazes that focus on number sequencing.
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Comparing Numbers Board Game
A hands-on Board Game to practise comparing numbers less than ten.
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Animated Flip Book (Ordering Numbers)
Delight your students with this animated flip book that will help them solidify their understanding of counting and ordering the numbers 1 through 20.
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Sequence Puzzle for Numbers 1-10 — Gingerbread Man
Share this sequence puzzle with your students for a fun way to practise ordering the numbers 1 - 10.
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Ordering 2-Digit Numbers Interactive Task Cards
Download our Ordering 2-Digit Numbers Interactive Task Cards for an engaging way to practise ordering numbers up to 120.
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Sequencing Activities — Numbers 1-9 Sausage Dog
Use our sequencing activities like this sausage dog to help your students practise ordering the numbers 1 - 9.
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Ordering Numbers 1 - 20 Task Cards
Practise ordering numbers 1 - 20 using this engaging set of nature-themed task cards.
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Alien Ordering Numbers Cards (Numbers 1 - 20)
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Comparing Numbers - Halloween Maths Worksheets
Comparing numbers just got a little creepier with exciting Halloween-themed kindergarten maths worksheet.
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Ordering Numbers Worksheets - Halloween Cut and Paste
Share these ordering numbers worksheets with your students for some spook-tacular Halloween fun!