SCORE Mathematics

Standards Connections

The Greedy Dog

Craig Habib

Number sense lesson for K - 1:
The dog is very greedy and is eating all of his food! He is eating some kinds of food more than others.

Children will compare the total number of each food item to see which type of food the dog ate more of and which the dog ate less of.

This lesson is an introduction to the concepts of more than/less than. The lesson includes a whole class activity in which the children will be representing the number of items that the dog ate and also a worksheet activity. The children will also gain some experience with using a graph.

Objective:
Upon successful completion of this lesson, the children will recognize the relationships of more than and less than with small numbers. This lesson begins to develop California State Number Sense standard 1.2 for first grade.

Evaluation:
When children correctly identify the more/less relationships between the food items and also describe the relationships to the teacher and the class, it will be clear that they have met the objective.

Prior Knowledge:
Children will need some background knowledge about dogs, what they eat, and the word "greedy." Basic counting will also be necessary. The children will only need basic number sense.

Learning Advice:

Each child should be able to complete the paper/pencil part of the lesson in about 5 -10 minutes.
It will be helpful to walk them through using the graph.

Resources:

Copies of the Dog Food Chart .
Copies of the data worksheet (HTML) / worksheet (PDF).
Copies of the more than and less than symbols, or paper for the children to make one of each.
Copies of the dog food can, the bone, and the chewy treat.
Enough open space for the children to move about the room, lining up in groups representing different food items.

Process:

Select one child in the class to play the part of the dog and to represent "more than" and "less than." Choose around 8 - 10 to hold dog food can pictures, 5-6 to hold bone pictures, and 2-3 to hold chew treat pictures. (The actual ratio is up to you, adjust the numbers to fit your class and your preferences.)
Have the children make their own pictures or give them printed copies. (Links located above.)
After each child has their picture, have them stand in "food" groups. (Cans, bones, and chew treats.)
Have the class compare the size of the groups:
Have two groups line up across from each other.
Without changing the groups at all, have the children determine which is "less than."
Ask the children (as a class) to determine which group is "more than" the other group.
Have the child playing the part of the dog stand between the groups, (where everyone can see) and hold the symbol in the correct direction.
Explore as many relationships as possible between all three groups, until the class has a good idea of what the relationships are, and what the symbols mean.
Now give each child a copy of the Dog Food Chart. (If you prefer, have the children work in pairs.)
Instruct the children to count each chew treat and write the number above the chew treats.
Instruct the children to count each bone and write the number above the bones.
Instruct the children to count each dog food can and write the number above the dog food cans.
Give each child or pair of children a worksheet to fill in their data.
Tell children to use the numbers from their charts to figure out what kind of food the dog ate the most of.
Tell them to write the symbol that shows which the dog ate more of.

Extensions:

Also include equivalent amounts and teach the "=" symbol.
Larger numbers would be easy to incorporate into this lesson.
Have the children explore numbers that are closer together in relationship, i.e., one more than/one less than.
Begin simple number sentences.
Tie to language arts through any literature book about dogs, or hungry animals like "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle The children may want to write about the greedy dog.

Conclusion:
Children love dogs, so have fun with this lesson!

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California Academic Content Standards:

Grade 1:
Number Sense
1.0 Students understand and use numbers up to 100:
1.2 Compare and order whole numbers to 100 by using the symbols for less than, equal to, or greater than (<, =, >).

Measurement and Geometry
1.0 Students use direct comparison and nonstandard units to describe the measurements of objects:

1.1 Compare the length, weight, and volume of two or more objects by using direct comparison or a nonstandard unit.

Mathematical Reasoning
1.0 Students make decisions about how to set up a problem:

1.2 Use tools, such as manipulatives or sketches, to model problems.

NCTM Standards: