Nature Sort & Graph Adventure!

Math Grades 1st Grade 6:46 Video
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Lesson Description

Let's explore sorting and graphing using nature items like leaves and pinecones! Learn how to organize data and create a colorful graph.

Video Resource

Grade 1: Math Lesson # 38 Sorting Items And Creating A Graph

The Eagle's Nest - Our Online Classroom

Duration: 6:46
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Sorting: Grouping similar items together.
  • Graphing: Representing data visually.
  • Data Interpretation: Understanding what a graph tells us.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to sort objects into categories based on shared attributes.
  • Students will be able to create a simple bar graph to represent sorted data.
  • Students will be able to interpret a graph by answering questions about the data.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by watching the YouTube video 'Grade 1: Math Lesson # 38 Sorting Items And Creating A Graph'. Discuss with students what sorting and graphing mean, referencing the video's introduction. Ask them if they have ever sorted things before (toys, clothes, etc.).
  • Sorting Activity (10 mins)
    Gather a collection of objects (e.g., crayons, blocks, buttons). Have students sort the objects into categories based on color, shape, or size. Encourage them to explain why they are putting certain items together.
  • Graphing Activity (15 mins)
    Provide students with graph paper or a pre-made graph template. Guide them in creating a bar graph to represent the sorted data. Explain how to label the axes and how to fill in the bars to represent the number of items in each category. Model the video's nature graph with the class items.
  • Data Interpretation (10 mins)
    Ask students questions about the graph they created. For example: 'Which category has the most items? Which category has the fewest items? How many more [color] items are there than [shape] items?'
  • Wrap Up (5 mins)
    Review the concepts of sorting and graphing. Ask students to share what they learned. Encourage them to find things to sort and graph at home.

Interactive Exercises

  • Nature Walk Sort & Graph
    Take students on a short nature walk (if feasible) and have them collect leaves, rocks, and other natural items. Back in the classroom, have them sort and graph their findings, similar to the video. The video uses pinecones, chrysanthemums, red leaves, yellow leaves, and green leaves.
  • Classroom Object Graph
    Have students choose a category of objects in the classroom (e.g., types of books, colors of shirts). As a class, create a large graph on chart paper to represent the data. The class will determine how many picture books, chapter books, comic books, etc. are on the bookshelf. Or the class can graph the different colors of shirts: red, blue, green, etc.

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to sort things?
  • Why is it helpful to sort things?
  • What is a graph?
  • How can a graph help us understand information?
  • Can you think of different ways you can sort a group of items?

Skills Developed

  • Sorting
  • Graphing
  • Data Interpretation
  • Counting
  • Comparing Quantities

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What does it mean to sort things?

Correct Answer: To put similar things together

Question 2:

What is a graph?

Correct Answer: A way to show information using pictures or bars

Question 3:

Which of these could you sort?

Correct Answer: All of the Above

Question 4:

If you have 3 red blocks and 2 blue blocks, which color has the most blocks?

Correct Answer: Red

Question 5:

What do we call putting things together that are alike?

Correct Answer: Sorting

Question 6:

On a graph, what shows us how many of something there are?

Correct Answer: Lines and bars

Question 7:

If a graph shows 5 apples and 2 bananas, which one has the fewest?

Correct Answer: Bananas

Question 8:

When making a graph, where do we start counting?

Correct Answer: The bottom

Question 9:

Which of these is NOT something you could graph?

Correct Answer: Smells

Question 10:

What does a graph help us do?

Correct Answer: Organize and see information

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

When we put things that are the same together, we are ________ them.

Correct Answer: sorting

Question 2:

A ________ helps us show information in a picture.

Correct Answer: graph

Question 3:

If a graph shows 4 cats and 6 dogs, there are more _______.

Correct Answer: dogs

Question 4:

On a graph, the bars start at the _______.

Correct Answer: bottom

Question 5:

The smallest number of something is called the ________.

Correct Answer: fewest

Question 6:

The biggest number of something is called the ________.

Correct Answer: most

Question 7:

A graph has bars or __________ to show amounts.

Correct Answer: lines

Question 8:

We can sort by color, shape, or ________.

Correct Answer: size

Question 9:

First, we sort, then we can make a _______.

Correct Answer: graph

Question 10:

Graphs show us data, which means __________.

Correct Answer: information

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.C.4:Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1:Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

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