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What you'll learn

  • How matching one to one shows which group has more
  • That spares left over mean one group has more, the other fewer
  • That spreading objects out does not change how many there are
  • That bigger things do not mean more: match or count to check
  • How to make a group with more, fewer or the same
  • Which of two numbers to 10 is more or less

Chapter by chapter

  1. Match two groups to find more, fewer or the same Free to try

    Reception maths · 1

  2. Compare groups that look different: spread out, close together, big or small

    Reception maths · 1

  3. Make a group with more, fewer or the same

    Reception maths · 1

  4. Compare two numbers to 10: which is more or less

    Reception maths · 2 Reception maths · 1

  5. Big comparing challenge: groups and numbers to 10 (10 questions)

See every Maths chapter in the chapter library

What the chapters cover in the national curriculum in England:

  1. Reception maths: Compare quantities up to 10 in different contexts, recognising when one quantity is greater than, less than or the same as the other quantity
  2. Reception maths: Compare numbers

About this adventure

More and Fewer is an interactive maths game that teaches Reception children aged 4–5 to compare two groups of up to 10 objects, and two numbers to 10, and say which has more, fewer or the same.

Children drag carrots to bunnies and flowers to bees, matching one to one: if some are left over, that group has more. They meet groups that try to trick the eye, such as a long spread-out row or a few big elephants beside lots of little mice, and learn to match or count to check. Then they pick apples to make a group with more, fewer or the same as Bo the bear's.

Finally, children compare numerals with Hop the frog. Cube towers and a 1 to 10 number track show that a number that comes later when we count is more. Friendly narration reads every instruction aloud.

Questions and answers

How do you teach more and fewer to a Reception child?

Start by matching two groups one to one, such as one spoon for each teddy. Whichever group has some left over has more, and the other has fewer. Then count both groups to check and use the words more, fewer and the same.

What is the difference between fewer and less?

Fewer is used for things you can count, like fewer apples or fewer bees. Less is used for amounts you cannot count, like less water, and when comparing numbers, as in 3 is less than 5.

Why do young children think a spread-out row has more?

Young children often judge by how much space a group takes up rather than how many things are in it. Matching each object with a partner, or counting both rows, shows them that spreading things out does not change the number.

What age is this comparing game for?

It is made for children aged 4 to 5 in Reception, matching the Early Years Foundation Stage goal of comparing quantities up to 10. Older children who are still unsure about more, fewer and the same can use it too.

What does the game include and how long does it take?

There are four short chapters and a 10-question challenge, taking about 25 minutes altogether. Each chapter has a narrated animated introduction, hands-on tasks with gentle feedback, and can be played on its own in any order.

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