Sorting Activities for Preschoolers: Land, Sea or Sky?

Sorting is how children make sense of the world. Putting things into groups builds early maths, language and logical thinking.

Easy sorting ideas

• Sort socks by colour.
• Sort toys into big and small.
• Sort blocks by shape.
• Sort leaves or stones on a walk.
• Sort cutlery after dinner.
• Sort animals by where they live.

Sorting animals

Ask where each animal lives. A dingo lives on land, a galah flies in the sky and a platypus spends lots of time in the water. Some animals, like the yabby, live in water and others, like ants, live on land.

Using the free sorting mat

1. Cut out the animal cards.
2. Say each animal's name.
3. Ask where it lives.
4. Glue it in the Land, Water or Sky box.
5. Talk about why.

Tips

• There can be more than one answer. Ask your child to explain.
• Start with two groups before using three.
• Let your child make up their own sorting rules.