Sort and Classify Objects Formative Assessment - Just in Time Quick Check, Teacher Notes, and Supporting Resources

This video is part of the Learn and Grow with WHRO TV series. Watch Carolyn Harris teach about sorting shapes according to one or two attributes.

Students will categorize attribute blocks based on their color, thickness and/or size. Optionally, connections to categorizing will be related to robots (e.g. looks, motions, sounds) and coding.

ClassifyingMathematics Instructional Plans (MIPs) help teachers align instruction with the 2016 Mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL) by providing examples of how the knowledge, skills and processes found in the SOL and curriculum framework can be presented to students in the classroom.

The lessons included in the attached Google Slides incorporate standards from Computer Science, Math, Language Arts, and Physical Education. The lessons all focus on conditional statements (IF, THEN, ELSE) and can easily be adapted to fit any grade from kindergarten to fifth grade. 

This is an active learning lesson on SOL:1.13 The student will sort and classify concrete objects according to one or two attributes.

After reviewing tips for following instructions, students will use plane figures to create a mystery image using their teacher's algorithm. Unfortunately, the teacher's directions are not very precise. Students will lend a hand by giving detailed feedback to debug and clarify the set of ordered instructions to successfully build a snowman.   

After teaching about sorting objects, students will need some independent practice. In the classroom, students are often able to sort objects physically, but when they are learning online, they may need to do it by a computer program for the sake of teacher assessment. This Google slide deck has three attributes (shape, color, and size) for students to sort the pictures. It also contains some questions about sorting for discussion, whether students are in class or at home.