Big and Little Sorting
To develop early size vocabulary through sorting big and little objects.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Mathematics
- Learning area: Mathematics
- Level: EYFS Birth-2
Objectives
- Selects big/little objects on request
- Uses 'big' and 'little' vocabulary
- Sorts by size with support
- Shows awareness of size difference
Materials
- Pairs of big/little identical objects
- Two sorting baskets labelled big/little
- Size vocabulary books
- Body movement to demonstrate size
Instructions
Collect pairs of identical objects in two sizes: big spoon and little spoon, big ball and little ball, big shoe and little shoe, big cup and little cup. Having identical objects in two sizes focuses children on the single variable of size.
Hold up the two spoons together: 'BIG spoon... little spoon. This one is BIG — so big! This one is little — so little and tiny!' Use your hands, voice, and facial expression to convey the size difference.
Play a simple matching game: 'Where does the big spoon go? In the BIG basket! Where does the little spoon go? In the LITTLE basket!' Keep language consistent and repetitive.
Use your body to demonstrate: stand very tall for big, crouch very small for little. 'BIG!' [stand tall, arms out] 'little!' [crouch, arms in] Let babies join in the body game.
Notice size differences in the environment: 'That's a big tree! Look — little flower next to it. Big tree, little flower!' This generalises the vocabulary beyond the activity table.
In stories, emphasise size language: 'Look how BIG Daddy Bear is! And how LITTLE Baby Bear is!' Connect to concrete experience.