More or Less Worksheet (Free Printable PDF)

What’s in the PDF

• Page 1 (Level 1, easier): It has four “circle the group with more” rows and two “circle the group with fewer” rows, using dogs, ice creams, rockets, flowers, fish and mushrooms.
• Page 2 (Level 2, harder): It has nine compare-the-numbers sums with >, < and = (numbers up to 20) and a one-less and one-more table.
• Page 3: an answer key for both levels.

Print one level at a time. If Level 1 feels easy, move straight on to Level 2.

How to teach more or less

Comparing starts with what children can see. Put three cars and five cars side by side and ask which row has more. Line the groups up one to one so the extra cars stand out. Then move to counting both groups and comparing the numbers. For the signs, many families use a hungry crocodile whose open mouth always eats the bigger number.

What to watch for

Children sometimes choose the group that looks bigger rather than the one with more, especially when pictures are spread out. Ask them to count both groups. With the signs, check that the open side faces the larger number.

Game: Card war

Use playing cards or number cards to 20. Each player turns over a card; the bigger number wins both. Ask your child to say “seven is more than four” as they collect the cards.

Everyday practice

Ask who has more peas on their plate, which tower is taller, or which jar has fewer buttons. Use the words more, fewer, less and the same during play so they become familiar.

Questions to ask while they work

• Which group has more? How do you know?
• How many more does this group have?
• What is one more than 12? One less?

Practise next

Try counting 1 to 10, before, after, between, subtraction within 5. Check that your child can write the numbers with number tracing 1 to 10.