Look at these two toy shelves. One is all mixed up. One has the toys sorted into neat groups.

What do you notice?

Watch as I tip out a little tub of mixed counters, cubes and beads onto the mat.

Some things go together. I am going to make some groups and tell you why each thing goes where it goes.

I can sort by colour, so all the red things go together. I can sort by shape, so all the round things go together. I can sort by size, so all the big things go together and all the little things go together.

Now it is your turn. In a moment I will give each of you (or your little group) a tray of mixed things.

First, find two things that look the same and put them together. Then keep going and sort the rest into groups your own way.

You can sort by colour (all the red together), by shape (all the round ones together), or by size (all the big ones together). The reason things go together is called your rule. When you finish, be ready to tell me your rule.

Hold up your finished tray for the class to see.

Can we guess your rule? Did you sort by colour, by shape, or by size?

Today we

• Sorted a mixed box of things into groups our own way
• Said a reason for our groups

Coming up

Next time we will sort by one special rule that everyone uses together: colour.