Math
Before KG · 10 min
Put them together by colour
Look at all of them. Which ones look like they belong together?
Ages 2–33 pagesYou: observe
Sort it again, a different way
You sorted these by colour before. Is there another way?
MathAges 3–415 minutes3 pagesEnglish textInk-light
Being written
This one is planned but not finished yet. Everything below is what it will contain.
- Skill
- Realising a set can be classified by more than one rule
- You will need
- Crayons
- Your job
- Discuss
- Stage
- KG1 · ages 3–4
Not drawn yet
I can sort the same things two different ways.
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How the fifteen minutes go
The five steps on this sheet, in the order a child meets them. This is what you will actually be doing, not a description of the method.
- 1
Wonder
You sorted these by colour before. Is there another way?
- 2
Listen
Your grown-up asks: what else is different about them?
- 3
Explore
Sort them by SIZE this time. Ring the big ones.
- 4
Share
Tell your grown-up both of your rules.
Three levels in the same pack
Print the one that fits today. Same skill, three depths — and on this sheet they differ like this.
Support
One re-sort, prompted: 'now by size'.
Fewer items, more pictures, hints included, parent reads the instructions.
Core
Two rules, the child names the second.
The standard task, recognition, practice and explanation.
Challenge
Find a third rule of their own.
Open-ended. Explain why, make your own example, use it somewhere new.
For the grown-up
The same guide that is printed on the back page, so you can read it before you decide to print anything.
The answers
Any consistent rule is correct. The insight, that the same objects can be grouped differently, is the entire mathematical content, and it is a large idea.
If they get stuck
Ask about one property at a time: are they all the same size? All the same shape? All facing the same way?
Common mistakes
- Repeating the colour rule because it worked last time. Ask what ELSE is different.
- An adult supplying the second rule. Wait; this one is worth waiting for.
When they finish early
Sort the cutlery drawer twice, two different ways.
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Licence
Free for personal, classroom, and parent use. You may print and share the link. You may not sell, re-upload, or modify this PDF without permission.
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