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Kindergarten · K.MD.B.3

Sorting objects in kindergarten

Sorting objects means putting things into groups that share a feature, such as color, shape or size. In kindergarten, your child sorts objects, counts how many are in each group and puts the groups in order from most to fewest.

What the standard says

The official Common Core wording, quoted exactly. The plain version follows.

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

What it means, in plain words

Sorting and classifying means deciding which group each object belongs to. A category is the name of a group, such as "red", "round" or "things with wheels". In kindergarten, the teacher usually names the categories, and your child puts each object in the right one.

After sorting, your child counts the objects in each group. Kindergarten groups stay small, with 10 objects or fewer. Then your child compares the counts and puts the groups in order, from the group with the most to the group with the fewest.

This is the start of working with data. A picture graph shows the same groups in rows, with one picture for each object, so the longest row is the biggest group. Sorting objects in kindergarten also builds careful counting, because every object belongs to one group and is counted once.

Your child should be able to:

  • Sort objects into groups the teacher names, like color or size
  • Count the objects in each group, up to 10
  • Put the groups in order from most to fewest
  • Check a sort and move an object that is in the wrong group

Example

A toy box holds 6 toy cars, 3 balls and 8 blocks. Sort the toys and put the groups in order from most to fewest.

  1. Make three piles: cars, balls and blocks.
  2. Count each pile: 6 cars, 3 balls and 8 blocks.
  3. 8 is the most, then 6, then 3.
  4. From most to fewest, the order is blocks, then cars, then balls.

Where children usually get stuck

  • Your child changes the rule halfway: the first toys go by color and the next ones by size.

    Each object has many features, so the child picks whichever one stands out for that object. Keeping one rule in mind for the whole pile is the hard part.

    What helps. Say the rule out loud before you start, like "only by color". Put one sample object at the top of each group as a reminder.

  • Your child says the biggest pile has the most, even when it holds fewer things.

    Big objects, like stuffed animals, spread out more than small ones, like marbles. The child judges by the size of the pile, not by the count.

    What helps. Count each group out loud and write its number on a scrap of paper next to it. Then compare the numbers, not the piles.

  • Your child counts some objects in a group twice and skips others, so the count comes out wrong.

    Objects in a loose pile move and blur together. Without moving each object as it is counted, the child loses track.

    What helps. Count by moving: slide each object across the table as you say its number, so every object moves once.

Try four practice questions

Real kindergarten questions from our question bank, easiest first. Answer them right here, check each one, and see a worked solution for any question.

  1. 1Warm-up
    Look at the object below.
    Object:
    Apple
    Which group does it go in?
    A
    Red
    B
    Blue
    C
    Yellow
    Show the answer and how to solve it

    The apple is red, so it goes in the Red group.

    1. 1Look at the apple.
    2. 2The apple is red.
    3. 3So it goes in the Red group.

    Common mistake. A common mistake is picking Yellow because some fruits are yellow. But the apple shown is red, so the answer is Red.

    The idea underneath. When the groups are colors, look only at the color of the object — its name doesn't matter.

  2. 2On level
    Look at the pictograph. Which group has more?
    Cats
    Cat
    Cat
    Cat
    Cat
    Cat
    Cat
    Cat
    Dogs
    Dog
    Dog
    Dog
    Dog
    A
    Cats
    B
    Dogs
    Show the answer and how to solve it

    Cats is the group with more. There are 7 cats and 4 dogs, and 7 is more than 4.

    1. 1Look at the pictograph. Count the cats in the top row and the dogs in the bottom row.
    2. 2There are 7 cats and 4 dogs.
    3. 37 is more than 4, so Cats is the group with more.

    Common mistake. A common mistake is to pick the smaller group when the question asks for more.

    The idea underneath. Count the icons in each group. The group with the bigger number has more.

  3. 3On level
    Maya counted the frogs in the picture graph below. Maya counted 4 frogs.
    Frogs
    Frog
    Frog
    Frog
    Ladybugs
    Ladybug
    Ladybug
    Ladybug
    Ladybug
    Ladybug
    Look at the picture graph to check Maya's count.
    A
    Maya counted the right number.
    B
    Maya counted too many.
    C
    Maya counted too few.
    Show the answer and how to solve it

    There are 3 frogs in the picture graph. Maya said 4. Since 4 is more than 3, Maya counted too many.

    1. 1First, find the frog row in the picture graph. Maya counted the frogs, so look at the frog row.
    2. 2Count the frogs one by one: 1, 2, 3. There are 3 frogs in the row.
    3. 3Maya said she counted 4 frogs. The picture graph shows 3 frogs. 4 is more than 3.
    4. 4So Maya counted more frogs than there really are. Maya counted too many.

    Common mistake. A common mistake is picking 'Maya counted the right number' without counting the icons yourself. Always count the row one icon at a time and compare it to Maya's number.

    The idea underneath. To check someone's count, count the items yourself and compare. If their number is bigger, they counted too many. If smaller, they counted too few. If the same, they got it right.

  4. 4Stretch
    Look at the tally chart.
    Stars
    Hearts
    Which sentence is true?
    A
    There are more stars than hearts.
    B
    There are fewer stars than hearts.
    C
    There are the same number of stars as hearts.
    Show the answer and how to solve it

    The true sentence is 'There are more stars than hearts.' because there are 5 stars and only 4 hearts.

    1. 1Look at the tally chart. Count the tally marks for stars.
    2. 2Stars: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. There are 5 stars.
    3. 3Now count the tally marks for hearts. Hearts: 1, 2, 3, 4. There are 4 hearts.
    4. 4Compare 5 and 4. 5 is more than 4, so there are more stars than hearts.

    Common mistake. A common mistake is to mix up 'more' and 'fewer.' Always count both groups and pick the word that matches the bigger number.

    The idea underneath. To compare two groups, count each group carefully. The group with the bigger number has more.