Illustrative Mathematics
Sort and Count
Young mathematicians are on their feet and moving around in this primary grade sorting activity. After giving each child an object or picture card, they then sort themselves into groups, counting to see which has the most or least...
Curated OER
Sorting and Classifying
Fifth graders are engaged in sorting and classifying geometric shapes of various colors and sizes. They discuss the properties of these shapes and illustrate a range of classifications using Venn diagrams.
Exploratorium
Exploring Pattern Blocks
Pattern blocks are one of the best math manipulatives ever invented. They are used quite extensively in the math activity presented here. Youngsters use the pattern block to fill in shapes that are present on the worksheet embedded in...
Curated OER
Junk Sort
Learners analyze objects by one or more attributes. In this sorting lesson, students use manipulatives and string or yarn to create a sorting game. Learners read books and items from the classroom to sort.
Curated OER
Sorting By One Atrribute
Students use different color items to sort by color and different attributes of the manipulatives given to them. In this sorting lesson plan, students also write a journal entry or draw a picture of their activity.
Curated OER
Sort it Out
Young scholars identify and sort a variety of two- and three-dimensional objects and compare and contrast their attributes. They identify shapes, locate shapes on the faces of solids, sort real objects and explain the sorting rule, and...
Curated OER
Sorting Through Life!
Students sort and count objects. In this sorting skills instructional activity, students work in small group with various objects that can be sorted and counted in groups.
Curated OER
Venn Diagram with Blocks
Fifth graders classify blocks according to their attributes. For this math lesson, 5th graders will identify attributes of blocks, sort them, then form the groups into a Venn Diagram, and write ratios using the attributes.
Curated OER
Shapes
Students identify attributes of different geometric shapes. For this geometry lesson, students view a PowerPoint presentation on shapes and use attribute blocks to examine the corners and edges of each shape. Students work together to...
Curated OER
Investigation: Sorting and Classifying
Fifth graders explore geometry by creating shapes with construction paper. In this shape characteristics lesson, 5th graders identify the different attributes that make up specific shapes and create them using construction paper, rulers,...
Curated OER
What's in the Bag?
Help your students identify the attributes of two-dimensional shapes. They read the book Round is a Mooncake, and use pattern blocks to sort shapes. Students sort shapes according to their attributes.
K-5 Math Teaching Resources
Math Center Labels
From counters and calculators to pattern blocks and Unifix cubes, this collection of printable labels has exactly what you need to bring some organization to your elementary math class.
Curated OER
Investigation - Can You Guess My Favorite Color?
Second graders explore a bag of mixed pattern blocks. As a class they discuss different attributes of these shapes. In this math lesson, 2nd graders search to find shapes that are similar by placing shapes on top of one another to...
Curated OER
New Kids on the Block
Second graders identify and describe in their own language, the following 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional shapes: triangle, square, oblong (non-square rectangle), circle, oval, pentagon, hexagon, diamond, box, cylinder, and sphere. They...
Curated OER
Pattern Power
Young elementary students will discover there are patterns all around them in their daily lives. In groups, they sort pattern blocks by size and color. Using the internet, they create their own type of patterns and share them with the...
Curated OER
Shapes from Shapes
Geometric shapes are really cool. Examine triangles, quadrilaterals, trapezoids, rhombuses, parallelograms, pentagons, and hexagons with your class. They draw large shapes and small shapes then compare them to understand their shapely...
AIMS Education Foundation
Shifty Shapes
Shape shifters examine and experiment with pattern shapes. In this geometry lesson, they work in groups to name and describe pattern block shapes, and they discover the combinations of shapes that can be placed inside a hexagon.
Curated OER
Geo Jammin' - Day 2, Lesson 4: Sing a Song of Shapes
Students learn five songs to define and develop understanding of the attributes of two- and three-dimensional figures and the meaning of mathematical terms. They classify objects as either two- or three-dimensional, through the use of...
Curated OER
Create A Map!
Students examine two- and three-dimensional shapes, and discuss map skills and attributes. They plan and create their own school campus maps using pre-cut building site shapes.
Curated OER
Making Pictures from Smaller Shapes
Students investigate shapes. For this dimension and orientation of shapes lesson, students identify and color shapes, use shape stamps to form animals, glue shapes together to make other objects and describe how shapes are used.
Curated OER
3-D Beginning Graphs
Students explore the concept of big and small. They collect objects from the classroom, sort them by size, and create a graph using Duplo stacking blocks.
Curated OER
What Does It Take?
First graders study the attributes of circles, squares, triangles and rectangles. They sort shapes that are the same and those that are different into groups.
Curated OER
Listen to a Shape
First graders identify basic shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle) and describes the attributes of each. They use magazines to find examples of each shape, and then make a collage.
Curated OER
Shapetown
Students identify basic geometric shapes. In this geometry lesson, students read the book Shapetown and identify the various shapes from the story. Students are given a sheet and draw part of a town using only shapes.