Topic 5 of 7
Sorting by color, shape, and size
Step 1 · Counting and shapes topics
Put things into groups that share one thing, such as color, shape or size, and count how many are in each group.
Sorting by one rule
Sorting means putting things into groups that are alike in one way. The way you choose is the sorting rule: by color, by shape, or by size.
The same things can be sorted again by a different rule. The six shapes above could also be sorted by shape: 2 circles, 2 squares, 2 triangles.
Counting each group
After sorting, count each group. Then you can say which group has the most and which has the fewest.
Example: Sort, then count
Toys: a car, a ball, a car, a car, a ball. Sort them and count.
- Put the cars together and the balls together.
- Count the cars: 3.
- Count the balls: 2.
Answer3 cars and 2 balls, so more cars
The odd one out
When all the things but one follow the rule, the one that does not is the odd one out. In circle, circle, square, circle, the square is the odd one out.
Try it yourself
Work each one on paper first, then open the answer to check.
Sort by shape: ■ ● ■ ● ■. How many squares and how many circles?
Show answer
3 squares and 2 circles.
A red sock, a blue sock, a red hat, a red cup. How many red things?
Show answer
3 red things.
Which is the odd one out: ▲ ▲ ■ ▲?
Show answer
The square. All the others are triangles.
Big dog, small dog, big cat. Sort by size. How many big animals?
Show answer
2 big animals.
Apples and bananas were sorted into two bowls. What was the rule?
Show answer
By kind of fruit: apples in one bowl, bananas in the other.