Surf for More Math

Lesson 2 - Sorting by Two Attributes

Use these interactive games to encourage students to have fun on the Web while learning about sorting by two attributes. Students can try these activity on their own or in pairs.

Goals

Sort and classify objects according to 2 attributes.

Use simple charts to organize data.

Instructions for Use

Shape Sorter prompts students to sort and classify objects using a Venn diagram.

To use Shape Sorter, click on the button with the yellow, green, and blue overlapping circles at the left of the screen. The text "Make the Rule" should appear below the buttons.

Click on the grey button with two separate circles. Click on one of the "Choose a rule" drop-down menus and choose a shape or colour that you want to sort by. Click on the other "Choose a rule" drop-down menu and choose another shape or colour to sort by.

Drag each shape that fits one of the rules to the appropriate circle. Drag all the shapes that do not fit either rule to the area outside the circles. A message will appear when all the shapes are in the correct locations.

Click the "New!" button to start a new game.

You can also play Guess the Rule by clicking on the button with the question mark at the left of the screen. The program creates a rule for you to try to figure out. Click and drag different coloured shapes into the circle. Try to guess the rule based on which shapes and colours are accepted or rejected. Select the rule from the pull-down menu and then click on the "Check Rule" button.