Big & Small
Big & Small
Today we compare big, small, and same. Finding, pointing, and matching support careful size noticing before we count apples and balls one at a time.
Today's Approach
Amara is about 2 years and 4 months old. Keep each guided activity to 3–8 minutes. Looking, pointing, choosing, copying a size movement, or saying one word all count as meaningful responses. Big and small make sense only through comparison. Mix-ups are normal; do not test reading or compare people's bodies.
A4 Teaching Picture
Open the original image to download or print
How to use it
Use only this A4 picture, printed or displayed full-screen. Look at the big apple, small apple, and two same-size green balls along the top. Copy FIND, POINT, and MATCH in the middle. Finish by counting one big apple, two small apples, and three same-size balls along the bottom. Reading the labels is not required.
Goals
- Chinese: understand 大, 小, 一样, 找, 指, and 配对.
- English: meet
big,small,same,find,point, andmatch. - Thinking: compare the relative size of two objects and notice when sizes match.
- Early math: count one big apple, two small apples, and three same-size balls.
- Movement and life skills: show big and small with the body and hear useful size language during real routines.
Materials
- Only the A4 teaching picture above, printed or displayed full-screen.
- A clear place to stretch and squat safely.
No fruit, balls, matching cards, or other teaching objects are needed.
1. Chinese Picture Talk
Time: 5–8 minutes.
Begin with the three cards along the top:
- “这个苹果大，这个苹果小。”
- “要放在一起看，才知道谁大、谁小。”
- “这两个绿色的球一样大。”
Then notice the middle row:
- “小朋友在找大苹果和小苹果。”
- “这只手指向大苹果。”
- “两个蓝色方块一样，可以配对。”
Choose only one or two prompts:
- “大苹果在哪里？”
- “你想指大苹果，还是小苹果？”
- “哪两个球一样大？”
- “哪两个方块可以配对？”
If Amara mixes up the words, place both ideas in one natural model: “这个苹果比较大，这个比较小。”
Today's Original Mini Story
An orchard has one big apple and one small apple.
A child looks carefully, finds them, and points.
Two green balls roll over; they look the same size.
Two blue squares find each other and make a matching pair.
Big, small, and same can all be noticed by looking closely.
Amara may point, watch, or gesture. Remembering the story sequence is not required.
2. English Time
Time: 3–5 minutes.
Words
| English | Meaning | Picture action |
|---|---|---|
| big | 大 | Point to the large apple at the top |
| small | 小 | Point to the small apple at the top |
| same | 一样 | Touch the two same-size green balls |
| find | 找 | Move a finger between two pictures while looking |
| point | 指 | Point to the large middle apple |
| match | 配对 | Touch the two blue squares |
Model:
A big apple.A small apple.The balls are the same size.Find the big apple.Point to the small apple.Match the two squares.
Offer one cue at a time. Looking, pointing, or choosing is enough; a complete sentence is not expected.
3. Early Math: Count Big, Small, and Same
Time: 3–5 minutes.
The bottom row shows:
- One big apple: touch once and say
one big apple. - Two small apples: touch each one and say
one, two. - Three same-size balls: touch each one and say
one, two, three.
After counting the three balls, notice: “All three look the same size.” Quantity and size are different features; having three balls does not make each one a “big ball”.
The aim is one-to-one counting and size noticing. Do not test numerals, memorised answers, or greater-than and less-than symbols.
4. Movement: Make the Body Big and Small
Time: 3–8 minutes.
Choose two or three actions:
Big: stand steadily and open both arms slowly.Small: lower into a gentle squat and bring hands closer.Same: the adult makes a simple pose and Amara may make a similar one.Find: name the big apple and let her find and point to it on the poster.
Movement Safety
Squat and stand slowly in a clear space. Amara does not need to curl tightly or reach as high as possible. Never use big, small, fat, or thin to judge or compare her body with another person's.
5. Everyday Observation
Use only one or two natural examples:
- Place an adult shoe beside a child's shoe: “这双比较大，那双比较小。”
- Notice a large door beside a small window.
- Notice two paving stones that look almost the same size.
Size changes with the comparison, so prefer “This is bigger than that” rather than treating big or small as a permanent object name.
6. Life Skill: Find the Right Size
Time: 3–5 minutes.
Use a normal dressing or tidying moment:
- Look at adult and child shoes and identify the pair that fits Amara.
- Guide one foot into the right shoe.
- Or place the A4 picture with other same-size pages and say “一样大，放一起。”
Model:
- “这是你的鞋，大小合适。”
Find your shoes.They match.
Do not arrange extra objects for a test; use something already happening in the day.
Bedtime Recall
- “今天哪个苹果比较大？”
- “哪两个绿色的球一样大？”
Big, small, or same?- “你最喜欢找、指，还是配对？”