Chomper, the Alligator Alligobbler To The Rescue!

Less than and greater than can be confusing symbols to a young child.  Make it fun and easy to understand with Chomper my alligator-alligobbler.

Here’s how:

• Buy a pack of self-seal long green envelopes.
• Children peel and stick the envelope shut.
• Make a V-template.

• Using the V-template, students trace the V and then cut it out.
• To expedite things, this can be pre-done for young children
• Run off the “jaws” of Chomper on several sheets of white cardstock.

• Students carefully cut the upper and lower jaws out.
• Using a glue stick, children run a stripe along the top V of the envelope-mouth of the alligator and then press on the top row of teeth.
• They do the same thing for the bottom row.

• Students cut out the half circle of Chomper’s eye and glue it to the top of the “head”.
• Give students a large wiggle eye and a thick glue dot.
• Students glue the wiggle eye on top of the green ½-circle “orb”.

• Run off a set of “Alligobbler” labels and give each student a sticker to place on the back of their Chomper.
• Students write their name above the label in plural-possessive form.

• Run off a set of number tiles in different colors.
• Each student needs two sets so that they can play at home.
• Children cut out their tiles.

 How to play the game.

• When children face a partner and they look at the opposite alligator, it will be a “less than” alligator.  They will have a “more than” alligator.
• Children stack one set of colored cards making sure that it is not the same color as their opponent.

•  Students place the cards face down.
• Decide who goes first.

•  Both children flip over a number card.
• If it is child A’s turn, she looks at the two numbers and decides which is more than and takes that number, saying the equation: “5 is more than 3.”

• The other child takes the 3.
• Now it is child B’s turn.
• Both children flip a number.

• Child B is looking at her alligobbler which is also “more than” to her,  so she will take the greatest number.
• If she’d like to take a smaller number, she can flip her alligobbler over so she is looking at a “less than” symbol “mouth and say that equation and take that number.

• Play ends when all of the numbers are gone.
• Children spill the number tiles Chomper has eaten, back onto the table and sort them by color, giving each other their own cards back.

Do you have a math tip you'd like to share?  I'd enjoy hearing from you.  diane@teachwithme.com

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