What Is Least to Greatest?

• Least to greatest means arranging numbers in order from the smallest value to the largest value.
• It is like climbing a staircase; you start at the bottom step (the smallest number) and move up to the top step (the biggest number).
• We use this to organize things like height, weight, or the number of toys we have.

How to Find the "Least" Number To find the smallest number in a group, we look for the one that represents the fewest items.

• The Counting Rule: When counting from 1, the number you say first is the smallest.
• The Group Rule: Look at the objects. The group with the fewest objects is the "Least."
• Example: If you have 2 apples, 5 apples, and 8 apples, the number 2 is the Least.

How to Find the "Greatest" Number The greatest number is the one that represents the most items in a group.

• The Counting Rule: When counting, the number you say last is the largest.
• The Group Rule: The pile that looks the biggest has the "Greatest" number.
• Example: In the group of 2, 5, and 8, the number 8 is the Greatest.

Steps to Arrange the Numbers

1. Find the Smallest: Look at all your numbers and pick the smallest one. Put it first.
2. Find the Next One: Look at the numbers left over. Which one comes next in the counting line? Put it in the middle.
3. Find the Biggest: The last number left should be the largest one. Put it at the end.

Why Is This Important?

• It helps us understand which amounts are more and which are less.
• It makes it easy to organize a line of students from shortest to tallest.
• It helps us understand the number line better as it grows from left to right.

Lesson Summary

• Least means the smallest amount.
• Greatest means the largest amount.
• Order: We always start with the smallest and end with the biggest.