Author: GHoffman

Sorting &
Pattern Recognition
General Knowledge & Math
School Readiness Kits
This kit was created and assembled by the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in collaboration with the University of Kentucky Human Development Institute with funding from the School Ready Libraries Grant ; adapted from the work of the Grant County Public Library.

General Knowledge & Math– Sorting and Pattern Recognition
Goals
Recognizes and describes shapes and spatial relationships.
Uses the attributes of objects for comparison and patterning. 1
These goals were taken from Building a Strong Foundation for School Success: Kentucky’s Early Childhood Standards https://kidsnow.ky.gov/families/readiness/Documents/early-childhood-standards.pdf

January 2018
Page 1

Write
Suggested Activities
Have children create a pattern as they draw using lines or other shapes. Varying the color of the crayons or markers used can also vary the pattern.
Go on a patterns walk outside. Have the children look for patterns in their environment (seams in a sidewalk, scales on a pine cone, etc.) Take time to enjoy the outdoors as the children sit and draw some of the patterns they see.
Go on a nature walk where the children can collect natural materials (rocks, leaves, etc) in a bag. Bring the items back they have collected. Using paper that has been divided in two, have the children sort the materials that they found and write down the categories. Ask them to see if they can sort their found objects a different way.
Take some sidewalk chalk or paintbrushes and water outside. Let children create patterns with the sidewalk chalk and water paint.
School Readiness Asides to Parents and Caregivers
Exploring outdoors allows children to explore their environment, develop muscle strength and coordination, and gain self-confidence.

January 2018
Page 3

Read
Suggested Activities
Read a book about patterns. Talk about what kind of patterns the children see on each page.
Read some of the books in the kit and act them out by sorting play food, buttons and other materials found both inside and outside.
To take patterning and sorting to a new level, read a book about patterning and then use materials that the children have already sorted and create a pattern.
School Readiness Asides to Parents and Caregivers
The ability to recognize and create patterns help us make predictions based on our observations; this is an important skill in math. It helps children learn about complex mathematical operations in later life
Children learn best by being able to interact with objects so if you want them to pattern or sort give them the actual objects.

January 2018
Page 2

Sing
The Sorting Song Sung to: "Are You Sleeping"
Color, shape and size. Color, shape and size
That is how we sort. That is how we sort. (Repeat x 2)
Here’s A Pattern
Here’s a pattern, here’s a pattern
Red, blue, red, blue, red, blue
Now you give me a pattern, you give me a pattern
Your turn now. (you can use shapes, colors, letters or numbers)

January 2018
Page 4

Talk
Suggested Activities
Talk about the many ways you can characterize a group of objects by color, size, shape, etc. If you work with older children, they can sort by two attributes at a time such as color and size or size and shape, etc.
Play the “Verb Game”. Say a verb and have the children do the movements to the verb. (e.g. jump, clap) Practice doing one verb first and then introduce a pattern.
Have the children clap to the letters or syllables of their name as you say them.
School Readiness Asides to Parents and Caregivers
All children need to be challenged to learn. Let young children sort by one attribute such as color, older children can sort by two attributes such as color and shape.
Clapping uses fine motor skills and clapping out the syllables of a child’s name helps them use both receptive and expressive communication skills.

January 2018
Page 5

Citation Page
ALIGNMENT OF STANDARDS AND BENCHMARKS. (2003, October 1). Retrieved March 07, 2017, from https://kidsnow.ky.gov/families/readiness/Documents/early-childhood-standards.pdf

January 2018
Page 7

Play
Suggested Activities
Play some music and let the kids dance. As they dance they can listen for parts of the music that makes patterns.
Blocks are a great way for children to learn about patterning and sorting. They can sort by color, size or shape and then create patterns from the blocks
Have children string beads in a pattern.
Play a game of follow the leader or Simon Says which incorporates single movements as well as movement patterns.
School Readiness Asides to Parents and Caregivers
Stringing and patterning beads builds both fine motor and math skills.
Building with blocks teaches children early math and engineering skills through hands on learning.
Playing a game of Follow the Leader or Simon Says helps children to learn to listen to and follow directions.

January 2018
Page 6

January 2018
Page 8

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January 2018
Page 9

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January 2018
Page 11

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January 2018
Page 10

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January 2018
Page 12