2
Taller and shorter
Learner’s Book 1: Unit 4, pp. 58–59
GoalCompare heights using taller, shorter, tallest and shortest, and put things in order.
New words
taller · more tall than another thingshorter · less tall than another thingtallest · the most tall of allshortest · the least tall of all
Explanation
To compare two heights, stand the things side by side with their bottoms on the same line. The one that goes higher is taller. The other one is shorter. With three or more things, the highest one is the tallest and the lowest one is the shortest. We can count blocks to help us. A tower of 9 blocks is taller than a tower of 6 blocks. We can also put things in order, from shortest to tallest.
Worked examples
Tower A has 5 blocks, tower B has 3 and tower C has 8. Tower C is the tallest. Tower B is the shortest.
These towers have 4, 7, 5 and 2 blocks. From shortest to tallest the order is: D (2), A (4), C (5), B (7).
Sara is taller than Leo. Leo is shorter than Sara. They both stand on the floor, so we can compare fairly.
Class activity
Tower game: build 4 towers of different heights with blocks, cups or books. Count the blocks in each. Put the towers in order from the shortest to the tallest. Point to the tallest tower and the shortest tower. Say: ‘This tower is taller than that tower.’
Practice
1
Which tower is taller, A or B?
B (8 blocks)
2
Which tower is the shortest?
A (3 blocks)
3
Put the towers in order from shortest to tallest.
B (2), D (4), A (6), C (9)
4
Ravi is taller than Zara. Zara is taller than Tom. Who is the shortest?
Tom