Now that we have a giant pile of keys to rifle through, sorting them into categories seems only natural. In small groups this week, the children are choosing their own classifications and adding keys as they meet the requirements. Today’s group of three children broke off into two sorting sections. One child quickly established his own set of piles while the other two worked as a team to designate key properties.
After we’d sorted, the children created signs for the categories. The titles are a testament to your children’s creativity and insight. We had groups of “really mini”, “circle-top”, “hammer”, “froggy”, “suitcase” and “oval”. It was quite interesting to see which sets overlapped in characteristics and name.
Fun!
I photocopy the keys and create a matching game. I also use binder rings so the children can arrange the keys into categories. My biggest hit is a container of locks and keys, and letting children find the matches. At every flea market I search for more locks and keys.
Oooo! I hadn’t thought of photocopying them. I know what I’m doing on Monday. I wish we had matching locks for them. Instead, they are running around the classroom trying every key in every lock and dead bolt in the room. They have actually found keys that turn the dead lock mechanism, but don’t actually move the bolt into place.