Sorting Through Life!

Barbette Flennoy               Joseph Stockton
                               4420 N. Beacon
                               Chicago IL 60613
                               (312) 534-2450

Objectives:

The goal of this lesson is to teach students how to sort objects by recognizing 
their attributes and if possible, relate them to life.  This lesson can be used
for kindergarten students.
                                                    
Materials Needed:

-refrigerator magnets          -buttons
-sea shells                    -counting bears
-attri-cubes                   -marbles
-nuts (variety)                -old jewelry
-color blocks                  -hair accessories   

Strategy:

The above listed items can be used in more than one lesson.  In other words, if 
you select marbles on one day, you can use nuts another day.  It really depends 
on what type of teaching style you prefer or the amount of materials you have.  
Basically, I enjoy using this as a rotational lesson.  Kindergarten students are 
very capable of doing this lesson in groups and working at a center that has 
been prepared for them.  The teacher can work with the students in  small 
groups.  I prefer two to four students in a group. 

Begin by placing the objects or items at the center where the students will be 
working.  If you are going to work in small groups, give the students a few 
minutes to explore the items/objects.  Ask the students if they can give the 
items a name.  Example - The items you have decided to use are the sea shells.  
Ask the students questions.  What are these?  Have you ever seen them before?  
Where?  What do you think of when you see them?  This gives the students a 
chance to call on their experiences in order to relate to the project.  Next, 
have the students look over the different types of shells and put them into 
groups by shape, color, texture, etc.  Next, have the students count the total 
number of groups.  They may even come up with groups that you have not thought 
about.  Basically, this is the way that I work with the students because of the 
amount of materials I have access to in my room. 

Performance Assessment:

Since this lesson is geared towards a kindergarten level, I like to use a check 
or a minus to reflect whether they understand or not.  In most Chicago schools 
at this time, the standard kindergarten assessment consists of a + (good), 
/ (needs work), and a .(dot-not developed). 

One of the best ways to assess a student is to use other materials that he/she 
has not used.  By doing this, it is possible to see if they can transfer or 
apply what they have studied.

Conclusions: 

This is one of my favorite lessons and I use a variety of objects which is 
incorporated into a unit on attributes.  The children love working with all of 
the different items.  It gives them a chance to explore, internalize, grasp, and 
relate to the subject.  It can really enhance the students' mathematical and 
socializing skills.