Sort and Classify Math and Science Games Gail Gerdemann 2009

Same and Different  Choose two objects from the collection  Work with a partner  Name as many ways as you can that the two objects are different (your partner tallies your answers)  Name as many ways as you can that the two objects are the same  Now it’s your partner’s turn

Same and Different

Two Shells Compared Same  White  Shells  bumpy Different  Size  Shape

My Special Peanut  Pass out one item from a collection to each student  Tell students to get to know their special object  Write observations and make a scientific drawing of your special object  Return all objects to the collection  Find your own special object back by using your notes and drawing

My Special Peanut

Peanut Observation  Two bumps about the same size  One bump is fatter and the other is slimmer  Medium tan color – not the lightest of the group nor the darkest

Guess My Object  Two students share a small collection  Without touching the objects, choose one object from the collection  Describe the object so well that your partner can find it  Take turns describing and guessing  Remember: The best player is the one who makes it easy for his/her partner to find the object you are thinking about!

Guess My Object

Clues for Guess My Object  Reddish-brown  Lots of tiny holes on the surface  Shaped like a rounded diamond  A few specks of white

Guess My Object

Guess My Sort  Decide on a category for sorting a collection  Silently put objects in groups following your secret plan  When someone thinks they know your secret, allow them to try to correctly place the next object  After sorting all the objects, see if anyone can name the attributes for each group

Guess My Sort

No lobes lobed

What Doesn’t Belong?  Put out 4 or 5 objects from a collection or from different collections  Ask, What doesn’t belong? Why not?  See if you can find a valid reason for each of the objects to be the one that doesn’t belong by choosing different attributes for sorting

What Doesn’t Belong?

large small

What Doesn’t Belong? Multi-colored One color

What Doesn’t Belong? man-made from Nature

What Doesn’t Belong? heavy lightweight

Advanced Guess My Sort  Play the same way as Guess My Sort  Choose an attribute that requires 3 or more groups when sorting  OR Choose an attribute that have overlapping groups (use a Venn diagram)  Try sorting the same collection another way

Advanced Guess My Sort

dark light Light and dark

Double Trouble  Play like Guess My Sort  Choose two attributes to sort by at the same time  Example: roughness and light/dark color  Sorting groups are: rough and light rough and dark smooth and light smooth and dark

Double Trouble

Small No lobes Large has lobes Large no lobes Small Has lobes

Guess My Seriation  Choose an attribute that can be ordered (length, weight, color, texture)  Line up a few objects from the collection in order by the attribute (from shorter to longest, for example)  Leave lots of space between objects  Your partner tries to place the remaining objects in the right position in the seriation and state the rule

Guess My Seriation

smooth rough

Guess My Seriation #2

light dark

Measuring Sequence To develop understanding about the nature of units in measurement:  Use a natural objects as the unit- measure (peanuts, seeds, etc.)  Use manufactured objects as the unit- measure (math manipulatives, e.g.)  Use standard measurement tools and units (i.e. ruler in inches)

Measuring with Peanuts

 Answer 8 or 9 peanuts  Would you get the same answer if you used different peanuts?  Would someone who couldn ‘t see the book know how big it is if you tell them how many peanuts long it is?  What’s the problem with peanuts?

Measuring with Tiles

Measuring with Inches