Run sheet

Comparing Numbers

Grade 3 · Lesson 5 · 23 slides · blocked practice

The big idea

Compare from the LEFT. The first place where the digits differ decides it, and nothing to the right of that matters.

Slide by slide

#	On the screen	What you say
1	Today — WARM-UP	Point at the five parts. Name where we are.
2	Write 2,507 in expanded form.	Boards up on three. This is yesterday's work — Place Value — Part 2. Do not help each other; I need to see what each of you kept.
3	2,000 + 500 + 7 answer — own slide	Show me. Everyone at once. Check your own board against this.
4	Today — I DO	We are at I DO. Boards down and flat.
5	Compare from the LEFT. The first place where the digits differ decides it, and nothing to the right of that matters.	Read this out. Do not explain it yet — the example explains it.
6	3,482 3,479 build 1 of 5	Compare 3,482 and 3,479.
7	3,482 3,479 3 = 3 build 2 of 5	Thousands: both 3. Not decided.
8	3,482 3,479 3 = 3 4 = 4 build 3 of 5	Hundreds: both 4. Still not decided.
9	3,482 3,479 3 = 3 4 = 4 8 > 7 build 4 of 5	Tens: 8 against 7. Decided.
10	3,482 3,479 3 = 3 4 = 4 8 > 7 3,482 > 3,479 build 5 of 5	3,482 is greater. The ones were never needed.
11	Which is greater, 5,216 or 5,261?	Now the same thing on a new one. Watch — nothing on your boards.
12	Thousands equal. Hundreds equal. Tens: 6 against 1. 6 is more. 5,261 > 5,216 answer — own slide	I say every step aloud as I write it. The board keeps all of it.
13	Today — WE DO	We are at WE DO. Boards up.
14	Which is greater, 4,807 or 4,870?	Go left to right and STOP at the first difference. Boards up.
15	Tens: 7 against 0. 4,870 > 4,807 answer — own slide	Boards up. Everyone at once — check yours against this.
16	Which is greater, 2,999 or 3,001?	One of these looks much bigger than it is.
17	Thousands: 3 against 2. 3,001 > 2,999 answer — own slide	Boards up. Everyone at once — check yours against this.
18	Today — YOU DO	We are at YOU DO. Boards down, books open.
19	Dimensions 3A — page 18	Open your books to this page. Wait — do not start yet.
20	Do — page 18	These are the book's own problems, same type as the three we have just done. Work them in the book.
21	Today — CLOSURE	Last part. Answers up.
22	“Have I found the first place where they differ?”	This is the question to ask yourself every time, not just today.
23	Which is greater, 7,105 or 7,015?	One last board. Then we are finished.

Mini whiteboards, by segment

Segment	MWB	Time	Boards	What to hold
WARM-UP	retrieval	3-5 min	BOARDS UP	Question up, boards up on the count. Everyone shows at once — a child who waits to see a neighbour's board has not retrieved anything. Grade 3 may drop this if the previous lesson was a review — from Grade 4 it is not optional.
I DO	none — they watch	3-4 min	boards down	Boards DOWN and flat. This segment is watching, and a child writing is not watching. Say so once at the start of the year and then hold it.
WE DO	primary use	5-6 min	BOARDS UP	One step, then boards up. Do not let them run ahead to the answer — the point is that everybody is on the same step at the same time.
YOU DO	on the sheet	4-5 min	boards down	Boards down. This is the book's problems, worked where the work will be kept.
CLOSURE	answers displayed	2-3 min	boards down	Answers on the board, children check their own. Mark nothing here.

Watch for
2,999 vs 3,001 is the trap: three 9s look enormous. A child who answers 2,999 has compared how the number LOOKS rather than the leading place, which is the same error as Grade 2's 28-versus-71, one size up.