Some math concepts are more difficult for kids to grasp than others. That’s why it’s so important to provide them with fun hands-on ways to practice! This free pirate treasure greater than less than activity is perfect for kindergarten and first grade math centers, homeschool, or after school practice. It will help students become fluent in comparing numbers up to 100 and using the greater than and less than symbols.
Getting Ready
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Setting up for this activity was very simple. I printed out the pirate treasure activity (available for free below) and cut out the gold doubloons cards along the gray lines. To make this activity last from year to year it would be easy to laminate it and then cut out the cards.
I placed the manipulative mat in the middle of my kiddos and then made two stacks of gold doubloons cards. We placed the symbols cards in the middle.
Each child received a copy of the recording sheet and a pencil. We were ready!
Greater Than Less Than Pirate Treasure
Enthusiastically, I told the kids the story of how the pirate gang found a treasure chest full of gold doubloons. They needed our help sorting out the gold coins! The kids couldn’t wait to get started.
The kids took turns drawing a gold doubloons card and placing it on the mat. When we had two numbers we talked about which number was greater than the other.
I showed them how the greater than and less than symbols work by explaining how the big side points to the bigger number and the pointed side points to the smaller number. It was a concept that they caught onto quickly. Having a fun backstory with a pirate-themed activity encouraged the kids to practice over and over again! It turned into a fun game.
Once we had a complete number sentence we read it out loud together. We said together, “32 is less than 78.” After practicing a few times I had the kids write down the number sentences on their recording sheets.
They had a great time sorting out the gold doubloons and practicing with the greater than less than symbols!
Grab Your Copy
If your kids are as excited as mine were about helping out the pirate gang, be sure to click the blue button below to download your own copy!
Be sure to scroll down further for more than 20 additional pirate-themed learning activities to complete a whole unit!
More Pirate-Themed Learning Activities
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
Treasure Map Upper and Lowercase Matching Activity // I Can Teach My Child
Paper Bowl Pirate Craft // I Heart Crafty Things
Color by Code Addition Sheets // The STEM Laboratory
Pirate Busy Box // Teach Me Mommy
Pirate Treasure Beginning Sounds Activity // Mom Inspired Life
Pirate Maths: Doubling Numbers // Adventures and Play
Treasure Chest Beginning Blends Match // The Letters of Literacy
Digging for Pirate Treasure Numbers // Play and Learn Every Day
Pirate Digraph Spin and Cover // Recipe for Teaching
Pirate Color by Sight Word Activity // A Dab of Glue Will Do
Glittering Pirate Treasure Slime // Schooling a Monkey
Pirate Treasure Chest Alphabet Play Dough Mats // Modern Preschool
I Spy ABC Treasure Map Writing Activity // Powerful Mothering
Pirate Dice Activities // Fairy Poppins
Pirate Sight Word Bingo // Mrs. Jones’ Creation Station
Pirate Treasure Greater Than Less Than Activity // Science Kiddo
Pirate Monkey Beginning Sounds Activity // Pages of Grace
Sink the Sight Word Pirate Ships // Liz’s Early Learning Spot
Pirate Themed Number Puzzles // Sara J Creations
Story Time with Printable Pirate Math Activity // Homebound but Hopeful
Treasure Chest Math Facts Sort // The Kindergarten Connection
Editable Pirate Sight Word Game // Playdough to Plato
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