Master Builders Slides Master Builders
Comparing Tower Blocks
Which is longer?
Tower A
Tower B
Look at the tops! Which one reaches higher?
How much longer?
1
2
3
3 Blocks
5
4
3
2
1
2 Extra!
5 Blocks
We count the extra blocks to see how much longer it is!
Practice Time
Tower 1
Tower 2
Which one is longer?
How many blocks longer?
Builder Challenge!
Grab your blocks!
Master Builders Lesson Plan Master Builders
Lesson Plan: Comparing Tower Heights
Grade: Kindergarten
Duration
45 Minutes
Topic
Measurement
Objective
Compare & Subtract
Learning Objectives
Students will identify the longer and shorter tower when comparing two options.
Students will determine how many more blocks are in the longer tower by counting the difference.
Key Vocabulary
Longer Shorter Height Compare How many more
Materials Needed
Snap blocks or Unifix cubes (10 per student)
Master Builders Slide Deck
Master Builders Worksheet
Crayons and Pencils
Instructional Sequence
1
The Hook: Mystery Towers (5 mins)
Show the class two hidden towers of different heights. Reveal them and ask, "Who can tell me which tower is the winner of the high jump?" Use the term longer to describe height if the cubes are connected.
2
Direct Instruction: The Slide Deck (15 mins)
Present the Master Builders Slides . Focus on identifying the base and the top. Introduce the strategy: match the blocks up until one tower runs out, then count the extra blocks to find out "how many more."
3
Partner Build: "Can You Top This?" (15 mins)
Partners sit back-to-back and build a tower between 1-10 blocks. They turn around and compare. Partner A says, "My tower is longer!" Partner B asks, "How many blocks longer?" Together, they count the difference.
4
Independent Work & Wrap Up (10 mins)
Distribute the Master Builders Worksheet . Students circle the longer tower and write the number for the difference. Finish with a "Thumbs Up" check: "I can find out how much longer a tower is."
Differentiation Strategies
Support
Provide physical cubes for students to build exactly what they see on the worksheet. Let them physically remove the "extra" blocks to count them.
Extension
Ask students to build a tower that is shorter by exactly 2 blocks. Introduce simple subtraction sentences: 5 - 3 = 2.
Master Builders Worksheet Master Builders
Tower Comparisons
Name:
Date:
Your Mission:
1. Circle the longer tower.
How many blocks longer?
How many blocks longer?
How many blocks longer?
How many blocks longer?
Tip: Count the "extra" blocks that are higher than the other tower!
Master Builders Slides Master Builders
Comparing and Counting Tower Blocks
I DO
Watch and listen as I compare these towers!
Example 1
I DO
Tower A
2 Extra Blocks!
Longer!
Example 2
I DO
How many more? 2
Longer!
Shorter
Example 3
I DO
Tiny!
5 More Blocks!
Giant!
Example 4
I DO
How many longer?
Longer
Shorter
WE DO
Get your blocks ready! Let's do this together.
Example 5
WE DO
Build these towers:
Point to the longer one!
Our Big Question:
How many blocks longer is the blue tower?
?
Example 6
WE DO
"Come up to the board and draw a circle around the EXTRA blocks!"
YOU DO
Now it's your turn to be a Master Builder!
Your Turn!
YOU DO
Pick up your
1
Circle the longer tower.
2
Count the extra blocks.
3
Write the number in the box.
Master Builder Challenge!
Grab your blocks!
Master Builders Slides v3 Master Builders
Comparing & Counting Our Towers
I DO
Watch and listen as I compare these towers!
Example 1
I DO
2
1
Tower A
4
3
2
1
2 Extra!
Longer!
Example 2
I DO
5
4
3
2
1
How many more?
2
Longer!
3
2
1
Shorter
Example 3
I DO
1
Tiny!
6
5
4
3
2
1
5 More!
Giant!
Example 4
I DO
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
How many longer?
3
Longer
4
3
2
1
Shorter
WE DO
Get your blocks ready! Let's do this together.
Hands On!
WE DO
Build these!
5
8
Question:
Count your extra blocks.
Show me on your fingers!
Board Work
WE DO
?
?
"Who can come up and draw a CIRCLE around the 2 EXTRA blocks?"
YOU DO
Now it's your turn to be a Master Builder!
Independent Work
YOU DO
Pick up your
1
Circle the LONGER tower.
2
Count the EXTRA blocks.
3
Write the NUMBER.
Builder Challenge!
Grab your blocks!
Master Builders Lateral Slides Master Builders
Comparing Side-by-Side Towers
I DO
Watch how I compare these horizontal towers!
Example 1
I DO
Tower A
1
2
Longer!
1
2
3
4
2 Extra Blocks!
Example 2
I DO
Longer!
1
2
3
4
5
2 More!
Shorter
1
2
3
Example 3
I DO
Tiny!
1
Giant!
1
2
3
4
5
6
5 Extra Blocks!
Example 4
I DO
Longer
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
How many more?
3
Shorter
1
2
3
4
WE DO
Get your blocks ready! Let's build side-by-side.
Hands On!
WE DO
Lay them down!
5
8
Question:
Count your extra blocks.
How many fingers?
Board Work
WE DO
?
?
"Circle the EXTRA blocks!"
YOU DO
Now it's your turn to be a Master Builder!
Independent Work
YOU DO
Pick up your
1
Circle the LONGER one.
2
Count the EXTRA blocks.
3
Write the NUMBER.
Builder Challenge!
Grab your blocks!
Master Builders Lateral Worksheet Master Builders
Side-by-Side Comparisons
Name:
Date:
Your Mission:
1. Circle the LONGER tower.
A
B
How many longer?
A
B
How many longer?
A
B
How many longer?
A
B
How many longer?
Master Builder Certificate Pending...
