Shapes and Ladders

Episode 17                                                                            Planet: Stuff

Learning concept of the episode: Classifying/Ordering – Objects can be sorted and organised by their internal properties and the functions they perform, and there may be more than one ‘right’ way to organise them.

Story Summary

At the conclusion of Bing and Bong’s magic act on the Tiny Planet of Stuff, their audience of squares shuffles off, and a triangle leads Bing and Bong to a wall. Behind the wall a troubled troupe of triangles and circles are trying to get to the other side, but the circles are trying to get through triangular holes, and vice versa. Bing and Bong sort the creatures by shape so they can jump through the holes that correspond to their own shape. Once through, the triangles and circles become part of the concert. As conductor, Bing now sorts the orchestra by sound instead of shape, demonstrating that there is more than one way to organise objects.

Focus Early Learning Goal

Mathematical Development 4: Use developing mathematical ideas and methods to solve practical problems.

Linked ELGs

PSE3, CLL3, M1, M5, M7, M9, M11

Preparation

• Watch the Tiny Planets episode 
• Talk about what Bing and Bong did in the story

Talk about…..

• How Bing and Bong sorted the various shapes to get over the wall
• How Bing then sorted the shapes at the concert
• How things can be sorted in different ways
• Sorting in everyday life

Focus Activity

Sort it out! (see overleaf)

Follow-on Activities

• Make a worksheet putting items into sets
• Printing pictures of sets
• Shape lotto game

Sort it out!

Aim

For the children to identify and be able to sort objects into various criteria

Resources

• Sorting trays
• Large container of various sorting objects

Guidelines

• Set up the sorting trays and objects in a quiet area.
• Allow small groups to sort the objects into the various. compartments of the sorting trays.
• Ask them to sort into various criteria, including size, shape and colour.
• Re-enforce that one item can go into more than one category.
• Allow the children to collect their own items to sort.

Key Vocabulary

Shape, colour, size, bigger than, smaller than, same as

 Health & Safety

Ensure the items chosen for sorting are suitable for the age and development level of the children.