CLASSIFYING & SORTING AS A FOUNDATION
FOR MATHEMATICAL THINKING
HOW WOULD AN EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTING PROVIDE FOR THIS?
HOW CAN CHILDREN ENGAGE IN THIS LEARNING EXPERIENCE? |
As Montessori activities are done from top to bottom and left to right in order to prepare their sense of directionality for reading and writing 1, the coins will be placed in increasing value. In an Australian context, this will look like:
To include $2 coins, this can be adapted whereby an extra bowl can be placed after the $1 bowl at the bottom. Children can be shown how to engage with this sorting activity as needed. |
Following a nature walk or trip to a riverside in which children collect rocks, children can place their rocks in a basket for collective use.
Children can brainstorm different categories for how the rocks can be organised, and the adult can print out their chosen categories on labels or blank index cards 2. Children can then engage in sorting activities based on the categories that they came up with. This activity can be easily adapted to include other materials such as shells, leaves, and other natural loose parts that children may find as they go on their nature walks. |
WHAT CAN CHILDREN LEARN FROM THIS?
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Learning Areas:
Science (Foundation): Science Understanding: Chemical sciences:
Science as a Human Endeavour: Nature and development of science:
Science Inquiry Skills: Planning and conducting:
Mathematics (Foundation): Number and Algebra: Patterns and algebra:
General Capabilities:
Literacy (Level 1): Word knowledge: Understand learning area vocabulary:
Numeracy (Level 1b): Use spatial reasoning: Visualise 2D shapes and 3D objects:
Critical and Creative Thinking (Level 1):
Generating ideas, possibilities and actions: Consider alternatives:
Analysing, synthesising and evaluating reasoning and procedures: Evaluate procedures and outcomes:
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IN WHAT AREAS CAN CHILDREN DEVELOP?
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Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity
Children feel safe, secure and supported.
Children develop their emerging autonomy, interdependence, resilience and sense of agency.
Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
Children become strong in their social and emotional wellbeing.
Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and wellbeing.
Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners. Children develop dispositions for learning such as curiosity, cooperation, confidence, creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, persistence, imagination and reflexivity. Children develop a range of skills and processes such as problem solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching and investigating. Children transfer and adapt what they have learned from one context to another. Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators
Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes.
Children begin to understand how symbols and pattern systems work.
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REFERENCES:
- Kartychok, N. R. (2015). Coin sorting: A Montessori inspired sensorial activity. Retrieved from http://www.rhythmsofplay.com/coin-sorting-a-montessori-inspired-sensorial-activity/
- Bruehl, M. (n.d.). Everybody needs a rock: Classifying and sorting. Retrieved from http://playfullearning.net/2008/08/everybody-needs-a-rock-classifying-sorting/
Updated: September 18th, 2015 by Christie Oh