Comparing Sizes

There are many objects on your desk! What do you see?

Wow, so many things! I see a ruler, a yardstick, a pencil, a crayon, and some erasers!

Yes, one eraser works on paper and the other works on chalkboard. Can you hold them up for me? Which eraser is bigger?

This one is!

And which eraser is smaller?

This one!

Very good! You’ve just compared two erasers. Comparing words usually have the sound “er” at the end.

Oh, like taller and shorter?

Yes, exactly! Let’s try comparing the height of two objects with the words taller and shorter. Can you hold up the ruler and the yardstick?

Yes! This ruler is shorter than the yardstick. You could also say that the yardstick is taller than the ruler.

Now you’re getting the hang of it! Let’s compare those books next.

Wow, this one is huge!

Yes, it is. Can you hold up the book that is narrower?

Narrower? I’m not sure what that words means.

Hmmm, let’s try this instead. Can you hold up the book that is wider?

Oh, yes! I know wide means thick. That must be this book!

You’re right! The brown book you’re holding is wider than the green book.

That must mean that the green book is narrower. Does narrower mean thinner?

It sure does! Great idea.

We haven’t talked about the crayon and the pencil yet. Can I guess what words to use to compare them?

Sure! How would you compare the crayon and the pencil?

I think the pencil is longer than the crayon, and I think the crayon is shorter than the pencil!

Great job! You can keep practicing comparing objects using the words bigger, smaller, taller, shorter, wider, narrower, longer, and shorter!