More or Less Jack and the Beanstalk Activity

Free Printable Game for Teaching More and Less in #preschool #kindergarten

This is a fun, hands-on Jack and the Beanstalk math activity that will help your pre-k or kindergarten students learn how to identify more and less. It’s the perfect addition to your fairy tale unit and won’t break the bank!

Free Jack and the Beanstalk Printable for #preschool #kindergarten

Purpose of the Jack and the Beanstalk Game


When children begin to understand that spoken number words can be used to name sets of objects they are developing crucial problem skills that are an important part of a strong mathematical foundation.

The learning objectives covered in this activity include; comparing a set of quantities and determining which is greater, and understanding the words more and less.

Free Printable Math Activity for Jack and the Beanstalk #preschool #kindergarten

Supplies Needed for the Jack and the Beanstalk Math Game


Here are the materials you will need to gather for this activity.

  • Printable more or less sheet {freebie available below}
  • Two different types of dry beans
  • One foam die
  • Crayons

More or Less Printable Math Activity #preschool #kindergarten

How to Prepare the Jack and the Beanstalk Game


First, ask your students to pair up or assign partners if you prefer. Next, give each pair a more or less sheet and a foam die.

Then, each pair of players should have two crayons of different colors, for example player 1 gets a green crayon and player 2 gets an orange crayon. It doesn’t matter which two colors they get as long as each player has a different color.

Each pair will also need two cups of dry beans, one cup containing one type of bean and the other cup containing a different type.

Please Note: Kidney beans are toxic to young children. If your students are young enough to be putting things in their mouth then this activity is too advanced for them. Use your own judgment when choosing beans for this activity.

How to Play the Jack and the Beanstalk Game


To play, the students in each pair will take turns rolling the die, then place the corresponding number of beans on their side of the recording sheet.

After each child has rolled the die and placed the correct number of beans in the box on their side of the recording sheet they will then count and compare the beans to see who has more and who has less. Their comparisons should be recorded using the sheet below.

Player 1 will use a crayon to make tally marks in the appropriate column and player 2 will do the same in the other column using a different colored crayon. The player with the most beans will circle their box on the sheet to indicate they have more and the player with the least number of beans will write an X on their box.

Click on the picture below to download the Jack and the Beanstalk Comparison printable.
Jack and the Beanstalk More Less Printable Game #preschool #kindergarten

Differentiation
If your students are more advanced they can use two dice for practice adding and comparing larger numbers. If your students are not able to count up to six dots on a die you might want to try using a pocket cube and inserting cards with dots representing only the numbers one, two, and three. Once students have a grasp on those numbers add the number four and so on until they are able to use a regular die.

The more or less Jack and the Beanstalk activity supports the following Common Core Kindergarten standard: Math.K.CC.C.6 Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group, e.g., by using matching and counting strategies.

Jack and the Beanstalk Video


The Cool School YouTube channel has lots of fun videos for kids, this one below is a re-telling of Jack and the Beanstalk.

More Jack and the Beanstalk Resources:

Printable Jack and the Beanstalk Roll, Say, and Write Game
Printable Jack and the Beanstalk Comprehension Activity
Jack and the Beanstalk Printable Flannel Board
Jack and the Beanstalk Math and Literacy Activities

Follow my Jack and the Beanstalk board on Pinterest for more great ideas!
Jack and the Beanstalk Pinterest Board

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