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This post has been co-written with Ben Wolfson, a full-time educator and assistant principal in the USA.
You’ll love this smallest to biggest number worksheet! The first weeks back at school after a long summer vacation can feel unsettling for many students. The sudden addition of early starts and lots of structure can be hard, which is why many teachers start the year with familiar skills to re-engage brains and to build confidence. Remembering how to order numbers largest to smallest is a good first 2 months of school math task, and this back to school printable will save your prep time.
Arranging Numbers By Size
Early math is all based around developing number sense; the idea that our numbering system has a logical order to it, and that each number represents a different value of real world objects. Students comparing numbers 1-20 have to engage both parts of this concept as they need to know why two digit numbers are bigger than single digit numbers, and how to compare two digit numbers where the first digit is the same. This smallest to biggest number worksheet is a great way to give your students independent practice time as well as opportunities for you to discuss and develop their mathematical thinking.
Preparing Arrange Numbers by Size 1-20 Worksheets
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You will want to laminate a class set of these back to school printable number sorting worksheets so that you can reuse them. If you are cutting the small strips out like in the extension task mentioned below, you should laminate those as well to save paper.
Extending Smallest To Biggest Number Worksheets
These simple back to school printable for comparing numbers 1-20 worksheets make for an instant math center: just download, print and distribute to your students. As with all good resources, however, you can get multiple extension activities from one download:
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Visual comparisons – if you have students who are struggling with arranging numbers by size when presented with the digits, you can scaffold the task by giving them a basket of small objects. For each row of mixed up numbers, have them count out the correct number of objects. This visual representation should help them identify the smallest and the biggest amounts (as long as your small objects are all the same size). You can then refer them to a number line to show why the numbers line up in the way that they do.
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Time trials – for those students who have mastered how to order numbers largest to smallest, you can introduce a competitive element by cutting each worksheet up into the smaller strips. Give students a basket with all 8 strips from one page and have them solve them in the shortest time possible. You can stretch them further by giving them all 16, making sure to mark which ones are greatest to smallest and which ones are smallest to greatest.
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Video explanation – it’s an axiom of math that a student doesn’t truly understand a concept until they can explain it out loud to someone else. Once your students have completed the smallest to biggest number worksheet, film them explaining how they arrived at their answer. Not only are these great to send home, but they can form part of a digital portfolio showing their academic growth over the year.
Looking for more ways to practice kindergarten math skills? I’ve got you covered!
5 amazing worksheet packs are included in this bundle covering everything from number recognition, counting to 20, subitizing, addition to 10, subtraction within 10, word problems, number sequence, comparing numbers, and much more!
Perfect for kindergarten students as homework, morning work, or no-prep math centers in the classroom! Have these on stand-by for fast finishers or substitute teachers!
Fun Books About Counting 1-10 That Rhyme:
Other Back to School Printables You’ll Love:
1) Back to School Worksheet Pack – 50 pages with all the skills your students need.
2) School Supplies Count and Write – Preschool and kindergarten kids will practice one to one correspondence and writing number words from 1 to 10 by counting adorable school supplies.
3) School Mazes – 3 different back to school mazes for fine motor practice
4) Lunchbox Notes –Kids will love them and remember fond memories of their time in school when you send them off every morning with these.
5) Bookshelf Scavenger Hunt – Use this printable treasure hunt as a fun literacy game in your classroom or as a hands-on activity to encourage reading for your homeschooling kids.
Fun Math Tools for Your Classroom:
Browse My Most Popular Math Printables:
1) Parking Cars Tracing Lines – More than 10 different tracing line patterns to choose from, all of which help with pencil control.
2) Scarecrow Arrange By Size – 3 different scarecrow-themed image sets that they will arrange from smallest to biggest.
3) Bumblebee Addition Game – Solve the sum and help the bee land on the correct flower!
4) Farm Shapes Mats – Use playdough, pompoms, stickers etc to learn 2D shapes.
5) Popsicle Stick Number Formation – Kids will love forming the numbers 1 to 10 when ice cream and popsicles are involved!
6) Valentines Printable Worksheets Pack – 50 pages of mixed literacy and math activities.
7) Zoo Animals Number Puzzle Strips – Complete these cute puzzles and learn the numbers 1 to 20.
8) Counting Colorful Bugs – This printable book will help kids count to 10 while also learning about color words.
9) Humpty Dumpty Numbers – In this printable game, your students will practice number recognition using 1 dice or simple addition when using 2 dice.
10) Build A Number Santa – Match the number to the correct number word, tally mark and domino to form a Santa Claus
