Sorting by Size, Shape, and Color - K

This is a very simple way to begin the year with Kindergarten. It helps me gauge where students are cognitively, in comprehension, and basic motor skills. For years, sorting by size, shape, and color has been a math standard in kindergarten. With this year's switch over to common core standards, the objectives are slightly different.

Standards:
Tennessee Art Standards:
2.1  Identify the elements of art. 

6.2  Identify connections between visual art and mathematics.

    
Math Common Core:  
Geometry K.G Identify and describe shapes (squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, hexagons, cubes, cones, cylinders, and spheres).

Using these standards, I place a large heaping pile of tangrams on each table (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangram). The goal is to sort the tangrams by color or size, depending on the length of the lesson. Students are encouraged to talk to one another throughout the sorting process. This open communication helps them work together and achieve the goal.

(It also reinforces that we share EVERYTHING in the art room!)

Sometimes we make it a group race, with stickers as the incentive. (I usually try to make it so that every group wins somehow, and every kid gets a sticker. Come on, we all love stickers!)

All a jumble!

Nice and sorted!