How classifying and sorting might be provided for in an early years setting!
Loose parts is a creative way to reuse natural materials and intentional teaching to develop classifying and sorting skills.Loose parts mean beautiful found objects and materials that the students can manipulate, move and control. They can take loose parts apart and put back together, redesign and line up.
These also create many different play possibilities and a great tool to invite conversations and creativity within the classroom. Loose parts offer many different possibilities for open-ended learning. Children will generally make connections with loose parts and start counting, then they will start arranging the parts into categories by colour, type, size and patterns. Links to Science and English can also be made as children start to investigate the physical properties and use language to engage in conversations. |
Using bright colours is an attractive and engaging way to motivate young children to learn.As well as developing fine motor skills, this activity using bright coloured pom poms with matching coloured bags is inviting and motivating for children to learn.
Children can use their fingers or even tweezers to pick up the pom poms and put them into the corresponding bag. This is also a great tool for assessment as teachers can gather information through observation as well as the use of pedagogical documentation. As this is an authentic experience the students will already be involved in the task therefore natural interactions will occur and descriptive information in regards to the children's learning can be assessed. |
Links to the Australian Curriculum!
The following are suggested connections to the Australian Curriculum and general capabilities.
FOUNDATION: Students will develop their problem solving skills through using materials to sort objects, solve unfamiliar problems and discuss and develop the reasons for their answer. Students will explain their reasoning by explaining comparisons of quantities, creative patterns and explaining processes.
NUMBER AND ALGEBRA NUMBER AND PLACE VALUE: ACMNA003 Subitise small collections of objects. Compare, order and make correspondences between collections, initially to 20 and explain reasoning. (ACMNA289) PATTERNS AND ALGEBRA (ACMNA005) Sort and classify familiar objects and explain the basis for these classifications. SCIENCE UNDERSTANDING PHYSICAL SCIENCES (ACSSU005) Comparing the way different sized, but similar shaped, objects move. SCIENCE AS A HUMAN ENDEAVOUR NATURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE (ACSHE013) Science involves exploring and observing the world using senses. SCIENCE INQUIRY SKILLS PROCESSING AND ANALYSING DATA INFORMATION (ACSIS233) Engage in discussions about observations and use methods such as drawing to represent ideas. GENERAL CAPABILITIES INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING: (ACMNA289) Use of elements from different cultures in collections to develop understandings of other cultures. NUMERACY (ACMNA289) Understand and use numbers in context. LITERACY (ACHNA289) Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing. Use language to interact with others. REFERENCES:
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The following are suggested connection to the EYLF.
OUTCOME ONE: Children have a strong sense of identity.
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