The sorting stream

Which basket will your shape go in? Change its size and try again.

Make your own investigation

Make two shapes the same size but different colours. Decide whether colour should change their basket.

Compare size with the gate; equality goes in the big basket. Colour is ignored.

Case cards

Cut these cards apart. Use the original example first, then let a partner supply a changed case. Keep sealed/final cards with the teacher until the learner commits a rule.

Case 1

Shape size: 2

Colour: green

My basket: small

My prediction and reason:

Case 2

Shape size: 5

Colour: orange

My basket: large

My prediction and reason:

Case 3

Shape size: 5

Colour: green

My basket: large

My prediction and reason:

Case 4

Shape size: 9

Colour: orange

My basket: large

My prediction and reason:

What this cannot establish

This is a chosen sorting rule, not a rule about which shapes are better.