When to Use "Over" vs. "More Than": A Simple Guide for Teachers and Parents

Very often I see my 3rd grade students get confused by the phrases "more than" and "over." These two words are often used in similar situations, but they aren't always interchangeable. Let me walk you through the differences between these two phrases and share some tips with you all!

When to use "over"

One of the first things I teach my students is that "over" can describe a physical location... For example, I’ll point to something on the classroom ceiling and say, "The lights are over our heads." We use "over" when something is physically above or higher than another object. This is a helpful visual for anyone to remember, and it's something kids can relate to immediately.

Another way "over" is used is to talk about numbers or amounts that exceed a specific threshold. For example, I might say, “There were over 20 students in the library,” when we take a field trip. We’re not counting the students individually at that moment, but I’m telling you that the total number is more than a certain amount.

When to use "more than"

"More than" is what we use when comparing two quantities. This comes up often when we discuss math or compare things like heights or quantities in class. I’ll ask, “Who has more than 5 pencils?” to encourage students to think about quantities and numbers. "More than" is also used when we’re measuring or counting. For instance, I could say, “The temperature outside is more than 80 degrees today,” to compare a specific temperature to a number I have in mind. The emphasis here is always on counting or measuring.

Key Differences: Over vs. More Than

The key difference between "over" and "more than" comes down to how we use them in conversation.

• Use "over" when talking about something physically located above something else or when describing an amount exceeding a specific number.
• Use "more than" when comparing quantities, whether you're counting, measuring, or using specific values.

By the time my students reach third grade, they start to understand this distinction, especially after we do activities where they physically place objects "over" something, like stacking blocks or drawing pictures of things that are "more than" a certain number.

I hope thiss helps you and your students get a better grasp of these phrases 😃