Explore · Mathematics · Data & Statistics

Sorting into categories

Classify objects into given categories, count the number in each category, and sort the categories by count

ages 5 to 68 practice questionsvideo included

What a learner can do afterwards

Sort a set of shapes by colour and count how many in each group
Sort objects by size (big/small) and state how many in each category
Identify which category has the most/fewest after sorting and counting

The lesson

Sorting means putting things into groups. Things in the same group are alike, like the same colour or the same size.

Tap each block and count out loud.

4 big blocks and 3 small blocks. The big group has one more block.

Try it together

Mia has 8 hearts. She puts them into two piles: red hearts and pink hearts. She counts 5 red hearts and 3 pink hearts. The red group has more.

Tap each heart and count out loud.

Good to know

Count one group at a time. Do not mix the groups together. One group, one count.

Sort things into groups, count each group, then see which group has more.

Watch it

Where it sits

Learn first

Comparing groups: more or fewer Counting objects to 20

This opens up

Drawing Life Cycle Diagrams Pictograms and tally charts Using objects to model real problems Sorting Data into Categories

Where this leads

Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.

Marine Biologist Accountant Database Administrator AI Researcher Astronomer Athlete

Then practise

8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.