The animals would not sleep! by Sara Levine

Author:Sara Levine [Levine Sara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Published: 2020-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Exploring the Math

Marco wants to organize his animals so they are comfortable at bedtime. He first sorts them

by how they move. He then sorts by color and size. Different ways of sorting yield different

results. When he sorts by color, friends Zebra and Giraffe are tearfully separated. When he

re-sorts by size, they are reunited. In the end Marco finds a solution that works for everyone.

As children explore sorting, they are thinking mathematically. They learn that they can

sort sets—or organize data—in different ways. They also discover that the way they choose

to sort matters.

Try this!

As children sort toys, ask them how they

decide what goes where.“How did you

decide where to put the turtle?” “Why did

you put this car with the rabbits?” There are

many ways to sort—perhaps the car is with

the rabbits in case they need a ride.

Invite children to find objects that share

an attribute. If you’re on a walk, point out,

“This leaf is the same size as your hand! Let’s

look for another leaf the same size.”

Help children notice different features

of objects. Play the “three word” game.

First pick an object you see—a toy, say.

Ask children to describe it in three words.

Then it’s your turn: describe the same toy

in three different words.

Encourage children to help you sort clean

laundry. Sort by family member and then by

type of clothing. Then ask children to pick

another way to sort—by color, for instance.

As children talk about sorting, they are using math to explore the world around them.

Encourage them to think creatively, too—like Marco!

—Karen Economopoulos

Co-Director of the Investigations Center for

Curriculum and Professional Development, TERC

Visit www.charlesbridge.com/storytellingmath for more activities.

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