What is Classifying and Sorting?
Classification is a fundamental pre-number learning concept that children learn about the world around them. Classifying and sorting can be done with or without using numbers, such as separating children or objects into distinct groups, such as the colour of their t-shirts, or their hair colour. Children need to learn how to sort and classify before they are able to move on to work that involves numbers, because they need to know what they are counting, before they are able to actually count them (Reys, et al., 2012).
Classifying and sorting involves finding things that are the same, or alike, and grouping them by specific traits or attributes. For example, a bunch of animals can be grouped based on their color or type of animal. You can have young children classify anything, including blocks, leaves, plates, or toy cars. Once they have classified items, children can compare items further to learn more specific similarities and differences between items, both within and between matched groups (Raney, 2015).
Classifying and sorting involves finding things that are the same, or alike, and grouping them by specific traits or attributes. For example, a bunch of animals can be grouped based on their color or type of animal. You can have young children classify anything, including blocks, leaves, plates, or toy cars. Once they have classified items, children can compare items further to learn more specific similarities and differences between items, both within and between matched groups (Raney, 2015).
How is Classifying and Sorting approached in Early Childhood Settings?
There are endless opportunities for children to be exposed to classification and sorting skills both in their school setting and at home. Activities that are as simple as grouping children by their age (some children may be 4 and others may be 5), the colour of their hair or their eyes. Another way to encourage children to learn classifying and sorting is by sorting out toys, leaves, rocks or other similar items into 'like' groups, such as big/small, long/short, or colours, which also begins to develop some of the language that is needed for higher mathematical thinking in Pre-primary and year 1. An extension of this would be to sort objects from the tallest to the shortest, so they have to be sorted in the correct order.
Below are two examples of how classifying and sorting may be accommodated for in Early Childhood settings.
There are endless opportunities for children to be exposed to classification and sorting skills both in their school setting and at home. Activities that are as simple as grouping children by their age (some children may be 4 and others may be 5), the colour of their hair or their eyes. Another way to encourage children to learn classifying and sorting is by sorting out toys, leaves, rocks or other similar items into 'like' groups, such as big/small, long/short, or colours, which also begins to develop some of the language that is needed for higher mathematical thinking in Pre-primary and year 1. An extension of this would be to sort objects from the tallest to the shortest, so they have to be sorted in the correct order.
Below are two examples of how classifying and sorting may be accommodated for in Early Childhood settings.
Colour Sorting with Tubes and Pompoms.One of the great things about this activity is that young children will use a number of problem solving strategies and self-correction. When the wrong coloured pompom is placed into the cardboard roll and it came out the other end, the child may respond with saying “oh no,” then pick it up to try again. The child will also try to match the pompom with the colours already in the bowls before placing it into the matching coloured roll.
*Tip: Place some pompoms in the bowls at the bottom before beginning the activity. OTHER LEARNING BENEFITS OF SORTING COLOURS
How does this activity link to the Australian Curriculum?
Australian National Curriculum Foundation Year: Sort and classify familiar objects and explain the basis for these classifications. Copy, continue and create patterns with objects and drawings (ACMNA005) http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/ Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) Outcome 5: Children are Effective Communicators Children begin to sort, categorise, order and compare collections and events and attributes of objects and materials, in their social and natural worlds. Belonging, Being & Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline (SCaSA) Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines: Engage in and extend numeracy practices in personally meaningful ways. Children explore the properties of familiar objects; Children sort, classify and match objects according to attributes, for example colours, sizes and shapes School Curriculum and Standards Authority. |
Classifying groups of objectsThe beauty of this activity is that it is so interchangeable, and just about any type of object or material can be used. It can also be adjusted with the age of the child/ren and the level of understanding and skill they have with classification and sorting of objects.
*Tip: Begin sorting the objects before the child/ren begin the activity based on their abilities. This particular activity has been set up as a provocation to encourage the children to sort the shells, stones and beads into similar groupings based on the type of object and the colour that it is, as well as the size. Notice there are three different group of shells (small, medium and large) as well as three different types of green glass beads. The children will then come over and continue to sort through the big bowl of objects and place other objects of the same type into the small containers with the ones that have already been classified. This activity itself contains a lot of loose and natural materials that young children really love to explore and manipulate. These types of materials help the child to feel a connection to the world around them. How does this activity link to the Australian Curriculum?
Australian National Curriculum Foundation Year: Sort, describe and name familiar two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional objects in the environment (ACMMG009) http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/ Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) Outcome 2: Children are Connected with and Contribute to their World. Children demonstrate an increasing knowledge of, and respect for natural and constructed environments. Outcome 4: Children are Confident and Involved Learners. Children use their senses to explore natural and built environments. Outcome 5: Children are Effective Communicators Children begin to sort, categorise, order and compare collections and events and attributes of objects and materials, in their social and natural worlds. Belonging, Being & Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment Outline (SCaSA) Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines: Engage in and extend numeracy practices in personally meaningful ways. Children sort, classify and match objects according to attributes, for example colours, sizes and shapes. School Curriculum and Standards Authority. |
See Some More Examples
30 ideas to practice classification for kids
Playfull Learning
The Imagination Tree
Extension.org
Let the Children Play: Reggio Emilia inspired Blog (Recommonded)
Learning 4 Kids
Playfull Learning
The Imagination Tree
Extension.org
Let the Children Play: Reggio Emilia inspired Blog (Recommonded)
Learning 4 Kids
References:
Raney, B., (2015), Basic Math Skills in Child Care: Matching, Classifying, and Measuring. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/25593/basic-math-skills-in-child-care:-matching-classifying-and-measuring#.VgjVXrQdKFJ.
Accessed: 28/9/2015.
Reys, R. E., Lindquist, M. M., Lambdin, D. V., Smith, N. L., Rogers, A., Falle, J., Frid, S. & Bennett, S., (2012). Helping children learn mathematics. Milton, QLD: John Wiley & Sons Australia.
Accessed: 28/9/2015.
Reys, R. E., Lindquist, M. M., Lambdin, D. V., Smith, N. L., Rogers, A., Falle, J., Frid, S. & Bennett, S., (2012). Helping children learn mathematics. Milton, QLD: John Wiley & Sons Australia.