Primary Standards:

MAFS.K.MD.2.3 Classify objects into given categories; count the numbers of objects in each category and sort the categories by count.3

3Limit category counts to be less than or equal to 10.

Connecting Standards:

MAFS.K.MD.1.1 Describe measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object.

MAFS.K.CC.2.5 Count to answer “how many?” questions about as many as 20 10 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in scattered configuration; given a number from 1-20 10, count out that many objects.

Content Knowledge:

In kindergarten, it makes sense to limit the sorting activities to ten or fewer objects in each group, to not overwhelm students with too many objects to sort.

Students should experience sorting by a variety of criteria as well as sorting rules that promote logical thinking and reasoning.  Students will identify similarities and differences between objects (e.g. size, shape, color) and use the attributes to sort a collection of objects.  Students should have opportunities to explain how the objects were sorted into groups, and how they categorized or labeled each set.  Kindergarteners refine their skills as they move from simple sorting tasks to more complex ones. To connect sorting to counting, students should be asked to count the number of objects in their sorted categories.  After sorting and counting, students can use vocabulary such as least, most, more than, less than, the same as, and equal to when comparing the categories.


GCG 1: Learning Goal: As a Mathematician, I will be able to sort objects by a given rule

  • Step 1: Students can sort objects by how alike or different they are, based on a given rule
  • Step 2: Students can count and compare the amount of objects in a given category
  • Step 3: Students can use descriptive words to explain why the given rule matches how they have sorted given objects

GCG 2: Learning Goal: As a Mathematician, I will be able to sort and describe objects

  • Step 1: Students can sort objects by a rule they have created and identified
  • Step 2: Students can use descriptive words to explain how they decided to sort their collections
  • Step 3: Students can use descriptive words to explain pre-sorted objects (state the given rule and how they know)