Math Monday::Sorting!
As you all may have guessed by now, I‘m a reformed hoarder. I’ve ended up selling everything I own to take this RV adventure, but there are a few things I’ve kept. And one of those things is a big 3 gallon bag of quarter size knick knacks. I’ve got buttons, marbles, glass beads, and other small random small objects. It’s a gold mine for fun math activities!
First, we use them as markers for board games or other math monday games (especially the Magic Multiple stuff!).
Secondly, it makes for a fantastic sorting activity.
You may not think of sorting as particularly mathmatical. However, the simple act of sorting can be applied to so many math standards…here’s a small example. If you click through this link and do some of these sorting activities (grade K-2) here’s what you’ll be doing:
Academic Standards and Assessment for Mathematics-
2.1.3- Numbers, Number Systems and Number Relationships-
G. Use concrete objects to count, order, and group.
2.4.3- Mathematical Reasoning and Connections-
A. Make, check and verify predictions about the quantity, size and shape of objects and groups of objects.
2.6.3- Statistics and Data Analysis-
A. Gather, organize and display data using pictures, tallies, charts, bar graphs and pictographs. C. Predict the likely number of times a condition will occur based on analyzed data.
2.8.3- Algebra and Functions-
A. Recognize, describe, extend, create, and replicate a variety of patterns including attribute, activity, number and geometric patterns. H. Describe and interpret the data shown in tables and charts.Objectives:
The students will develop the skills to examine a group of objects and determine possible ways to categorize them.
The students will be able to analyze and classify data in different ways allowing them to sort them into groups.
The students will be able to distinguish similarities and differences between objects.
The students will be able to draw a bar graph using the data they found from sorting their show-n-tell items.
The students will be able to arrange objects from largest to smallest.
So, don’t underestimate the power of sorting and classifying!
First, Sassy sorts through and gets all the glass beads. Then she sorts them according to some criteria she decides. Sometimes it’s by size, sometimes shape, sometimes color. Today, she sorted them by color.
and then found a couple stragglers that didn’t match anything else but themselves:
We sort things all the time. When we’re at the beach, after we’ve collected seashells, we sort them however Sassy decides. In restaurants, we put everything on the table in the middle and sort them into groups. This takes some imagination…like, ‘things we use to eat with’, ‘things we eat’, ‘things we don’t use to eat with or eat’.
If your kids are older, you can take sorting into other directions. Using the good ole Venn Diagram idea, you can use the same simple materials to sort things into multiple categories and then see where they overlap. Best of all, especially when you’re on the road like we are, this can be done anywhere, anytime, with just about anything.
our favorite sorting games:
older kids–
SET Game
younger kids–
Beginning Sorting Set – 168 Pieces
Thanks For Sharing!