Gator Chomp

What your child will figure out

• Identify the greater, lesser, or equal value in a pair of whole numbers.
• Place >, <, or = so the open side faces the greater value and explain the relationship aloud.
• Compare decimals by matching place values, and compare fractions using equal parts, equivalence, and benchmark values.
• Transfer pairwise comparison to ordering whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and mixed representations from least to greatest.

The levels

1. Pick the bigger picnic

   Predict which whole number is greater and observe Gumbo's open mouth turn toward 12.

2. Snap in the symbol

   Act on the greater-than rule by completing 38 > 14 and reading the true number sentence.

3. Twin turtle treats

   Distinguish exact equality from values that merely look similar.

4. Cross the hundreds bridge

   Compare whole numbers across a hundreds boundary using the greatest place first.

5. Thousand-log lookout

   Find the first differing place in two four-digit numbers.

6. Decimal dragonflies

   Observe aligned place values and explain why 3.7 is greater than 3.45 at the tenths place.

7. Zero-tail twins

   Recognize that trailing decimal zeros do not change value.

8. Hundredth hideout

   Align unequal-length decimals before comparing their tenths.

9. Same-size slices

   Compare same-denominator fractions by their numerators.

10. Two names, one snack

    Identify equivalent fractions as equal values.

11. Unit-fraction flip

    Reason that a larger denominator makes a smaller unit fraction.

12. Whole-number raft

    Transfer pairwise whole-number comparison to a four-card ordering.

13. Decimal dock

    Order decimals by aligning tenths and hundredths.

14. Build the lily-pad raft

    Order a same-denominator fraction set from least to greatest.

15. Different-slice crossing

    Use one half and one whole as benchmarks for unlike denominators.

16. Bayou grand crossing

    Transfer every comparison strategy to a mixed five-card expedition.