Mathematics
Big and Small
Big and small
Point, compare and say it out loud — big and small, tall and short, more and less.
Big
Look! An elephant. It is big.
Say it with me: big.
Can you make your arms big like an elephant?
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Small
Look! A mouse. It is small.
Say it with me: small.
Can you make yourself small like a mouse?
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Big and small
Elephant is big. Mouse is small.
Big, small. Big, small.
Stretch up for big. Curl down for small.
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Mummy elephant, baby elephant
Mummy elephant is big.
Baby elephant is small.
Which one is big? Point to it!
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Ama's hands
Ama is three. Her hands are small.
Daddy's hands are big.
Put your hand on a grown-up's hand. Whose hand is big?
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Big ball, small ball
Kofi has a big ball. Abena has a small ball.
Bounce, bounce, big ball.
Bounce, bounce, small ball.
Can you find a ball at home? Is it big or small?
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At the market
Mama buys a big yam.
Ama carries a small tomato.
Big yam. Small tomato.
What is big at the market? What is small?
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Kenkey
One big kenkey for Daddy.
One small kenkey for Kwame.
Who gets the big one? Who gets the small one?
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Trotro
A trotro is big. Many people sit inside.
A bicycle is small. One person sits on it.
Can you say "trotro"? It is big!
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Tall
Look! A giraffe. It is tall.
Its neck goes up, up, up.
Stand up. Reach up high. You are tall!
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Short
A goat is short. It is near the ground.
Giraffe is tall. Goat is short.
Crouch down low. Now you are short!
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Tall tree
This tree is very tall.
The grass is short.
Tall tree. Short grass.
Can you see a tall tree outside?
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Who is tall?
Daddy is tall. Kofi is short.
Kofi stands next to Daddy. Daddy's head is up high.
Stand next to a grown-up. Who is tall? Who is short?
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Tall and short
Tall, short. Tall, short.
Reach up: tall!
Bend down: short!
Do it again. Faster!
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More
Look at the bananas. So many!
That is more.
Say it: more.
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Less
Abena has one banana.
Only one. That is less.
Say it: less.
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More or less?
Kwame has three oranges.
Ama has one orange.
Who has more? Who has less?
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Water in a cup
Pour water. A little bit. That is less.
Pour more water. Up to the top! That is more.
Which cup has more water?
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More and less
More, less. More, less.
Open your arms wide: more!
Bring your hands close: less!
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Big spoon, small spoon
Mama stirs the soup with a big spoon.
Baby eats with a small spoon.
Find a spoon. Is it big or small?
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Big shoe, small shoe
Daddy's shoe is big.
Kofi's shoe is small.
Kofi puts his foot in Daddy's shoe. It is too big! Ha ha!
Can you find a big shoe?
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Pots at home
A big pot cooks rice for everyone.
A small pot boils one egg.
Point to the big pot. Point to the small pot.
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Big noise, small noise
A drum goes BOOM! That is a big noise.
A whisper goes shh. That is a small noise.
Make a big noise. Now make a small noise.
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Big step, small step
Take a big step. Stretch your leg!
Take a small step. Tiny, tiny.
Big step, small step, all the way to the door.
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Let's sort
Put the big things here.
Put the small things there.
A big cup. A small cup. A big stone. A small stone.
Can you sort your toys into big and small?
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Sun and stars
The sun is big and bright.
A star is small and twinkly.
Big sun in the day. Small stars at night.
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Mama and baby
Mama is tall. Baby is short.
Mama has more food on her plate. Baby has less.
Baby is small, but Baby is growing! Soon Baby will be big.
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I am growing
Last year you were small.
Now you are bigger.
One day you will be tall like Daddy and Mama.
How big are you? Show me with your arms!
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Say it with me
Big and small.
Tall and short.
More and less.
Clap for every word!
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Well done!
You know big and small.
You know tall and short.
You know more and less.
Give yourself a big clap!
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Learn more
- CBeebies — songs, games and shows for the youngest learners
- Numberblocks on CBeebies — numbers and sizes made friendly
- Khan Academy Kids — a free app with early maths games for ages 2 and up
- NaCCA Ghana — the national curriculum, including the early childhood standards
- UNICEF Parenting — tips on talking and playing with toddlers
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Watch more
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Think about it
- Can you find something big in this room? Something small?
- Who is the tallest person in your house?
- If you had two sweets and your friend had five, who would have more?
- Can you walk with big steps, then with small steps?
- What animal is bigger than you? What animal is smaller than you?
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