Reception Maths: The same as: equal groups

Method. Count each row. Then see if the numbers are the same.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   4
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   4
3. Compare the two numbers. The same number means the same amount.
   4 and 4
4. Write the answer.
   Yes

Check. Match one to one. Every thing has a partner. ✓

Watch out. Two rows can look different and still have the same number.

Method. Count each row. Then see if the numbers are the same.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   6
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   7
3. Compare the two numbers. The same number means the same amount.
   6 and 7
4. Write the answer.
   No

Check. Match one to one. One row has things left over. ✓

Watch out. Two rows can look different and still have the same number.

Method. Count each row. Then see if the numbers are the same.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   3
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   3
3. Compare the two numbers. The same number means the same amount.
   3 and 3
4. Write the answer.
   Yes

Check. Match one to one. Every thing has a partner. ✓

Watch out. Two rows can look different and still have the same number.

Method. Count each row. Then see if the numbers are the same.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   9
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   8
3. Compare the two numbers. The same number means the same amount.
   9 and 8
4. Write the answer.
   No

Check. Match one to one. One row has things left over. ✓

Watch out. Two rows can look different and still have the same number.

Key words. The same means equal: the same number of things.

Method. Count each group. If the numbers are the same, the groups are the same.

1. Count group a. Touch each one once.
   Group a: 5
2. Count group b. Touch each one once.
   Group b: 5
3. Compare the numbers. Both numbers are the same.
   5 = 5
4. Write the answer.
   The same: both have 5

Check. Match one to one: every thing has a partner, and none is left over. ✓

Watch out. Two groups can look different but still have the same number.

Method. Count the first group. Then find the group with the same number.

1. Count the first group: 7. Touch each one once.
   7
2. Check each choice. Only one choice has the same number.
   6, 7, 8
3. Write the answer.
   7

Check. Count the group you picked again. It is 7. ✓

Watch out. Check the number of each choice, not the size of the picture.

Method. Count the first group. Then find the group with the same number.

1. Count the first group: 4. Touch each one once.
   4
2. Check each choice. Only one choice has the same number.
   3, 4, 5
3. Write the answer.
   4

Check. Count the group you picked again. It is 4. ✓

Watch out. Check the number of each choice, not the size of the picture.

Method. The rows are the same, so row b has the same number as row a.

1. Look at row a. It has 8 balls.
   8
2. Think about row b. The same number means the same amount.
   8 = 8
3. Write the answer.
   8

Check. Count 8 things in row b to check. ✓

Watch out. The same means equal: the same number.

Method. Check the number of things in each row, not the length.

1. Look at the rows. Long rows can still have a different number.
   length is not number
2. Count or match them. Match one to one and check for leftovers.
   count each row
3. Write the answer.
   No. Looking long is not enough. You must count or match them.

Check. Count each row to be sure. ✓

Watch out. Length can be fooling. Count the things.

Method. Count each set of counters, even if they are spread out.

1. Count Sam’s counters. Touch each one once.
   Sam: 6
2. Count Ali’s counters. Spreading them out does not change the number.
   Ali: 6
3. Compare them. Both have the same number.
   6 = 6
4. Write the answer.
   Yes. They both have 6 counters. Spreading out does not change the number.

Check. Count each set again: 6 and 6. ✓

Watch out. Spreading things out does not change how many there are.

Method. Count the things in each row.

1. Count row a. Touch each one once.
   4
2. Count row b. Touch each one once.
   5
3. Compare the numbers. Five is not the same as four.
   5 is not 4
4. Write the answer.
   No. Row b has 5 stars, which is one more than 4.

Check. Count row b again: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. ✓

Watch out. Check every row, not just the first one.

Method. Count each row, even if the pattern is different.

1. Count row a. Touch each star once.
   3
2. Count row b. Touch each cube once.
   3
3. Compare the counts. The counts are the same.
   3 = 3
4. Write the answer.
   Accept any answer that counts both rows, gets 3 each and says they are equal.

Check. Count each row again: 1, 2, 3 in both. ✓

Watch out. A different pattern can still have the same number.