Run sheet

Comparing and Ordering Numbers

Grade 4 · Lesson 5 · 23 slides · blocked practice

The big idea

Compare from the left, and when the numbers have different lengths the longer one is greater — but line them up before you trust that.

Slide by slide

#	On the screen	What you say
1	Today — WARM-UP	Point at the five parts. Name where we are.
2	What comes next? 5,000 4,750 4,500 ___	Boards up on three. This is yesterday's work — Number Patterns. Do not help each other; I need to see what each of you kept.
3	4,250 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, and when the numbers have different lengths the longer one is greater — but line them up before you trust that.	Read this out. Do not explain it yet — the example explains it.
6	48,215 9,806 build 1 of 5	Compare 48,215 and 9,806.
7	48,215 9,806 5 digits vs 4 digits build 2 of 5	Count the digits: five against four.
8	48,215 9,806 5 digits vs 4 digits 48,215 > 9,806 build 3 of 5	More digits means greater, so 48,215 wins.
9	48,215 9,806 5 digits vs 4 digits 48,215 > 9,806 4=4 8=8 2=2 build 4 of 5	Now 48,215 and 48,251. Same length — compare from the left.
10	48,215 9,806 5 digits vs 4 digits 48,215 > 9,806 4=4 8=8 2=2 48,251 > 48,215 build 5 of 5	First difference is the tens: 5 against 1.
11	Order least to greatest: 32,105 3,215 32,150	Now the same thing on a new one. Watch — nothing on your boards.
12	3,215 has four digits — it is least. 32,105 and 32,150 differ at the tens: 0 against 5. 3,215 32,105 32,150 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	Order least to greatest: 71,400 7,140 71,040	Count digits first, then compare from the left. Boards up.
15	7,140 71,040 71,400 answer — own slide	Boards up. Everyone at once — check yours against this.
16	Order least to greatest: 60,009 60,090 6,900	The zeros matter here. Line the numbers up before deciding.
17	6,900 60,009 60,090 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 4A — page 20	Open your books to this page. Wait — do not start yet.
20	Do — page 20	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	“Same number of digits? Then compare from the left.”	This is the question to ask yourself every time, not just today.
23	Which is greater, 90,100 or 9,100?	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.
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
60,009 and 60,090 differ only in places most children skim. Have them write the two numbers one above the other, aligned right — the comparison becomes visible and the method transfers to decimals in Grade 5.