Unit Plan 32 (PreK Math): Sort–Count–Compare (Data Project)

Focus: Plan and carry out a class sort (e.g., shoes, toys), count each category, and compare which group has more, fewer, or the same; practice cardinality and clear data talk.

Grade Level: PreK

Subject Area: Mathematics (Data—Sorting, Counting, Comparing)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 20–30 minutes per session

I. Introduction

Children become classroom “data detectives.” They choose a collection (e.g., classroom shoes or toy bins), decide a sorting rule, place items by attribute, then count and compare groups. The week culminates in a simple display and a short share-out using “more/fewer/same” language.

Essential Questions

• How can we sort objects into categories?
• How do we count to find “how many” in each group?
• How can we tell which group has more, fewer, or the same?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Sort a shared collection into clear categories based on one attribute.
2. Count items in each group and state how many (cardinality).
3. Compare groups using more, fewer, same; begin to compare simple numerals.
4. Create and talk about a very simple data display (cube towers, sticker bars, or picture chart).

Standards Alignment — Custom CCSS-style Pre-Kindergarten

• PK.MD.3 — Sort & classify into categories. Description: Sorts by one attribute (color/shape/size); counts how many in each. Example: “We have 5 red bears and 3 blue bears.” Aligns to: K.MD.3 (direct).
• PK.MD.4 — Talk about data (“more in this group”). Description: Makes simple comparison statements about sorted sets. Example: “More triangles than circles.” Aligns to: K.MD.3 (interpretation readiness).
• PK.CC.5 — Cardinality to 10. Description: Understands the last number said tells “how many.” Example: After counting 6 cubes, says “There are 6.” Aligns to: K.CC.4b–c (direct).
• PK.CC.6 — Answer “How many?” (arranged sets to 10; scattered to 5). Description: Counts and tells how many in typical classroom layouts. Example: Counts 8 buttons in a row; counts 5 scattered blocks. Aligns to: K.CC.5 (scaled).
• PK.CC.7 — Compare sets (more, fewer, same) to 10. Description: Compares two groups with/without counting (small numbers). Example: Sees 4 apples vs 6 apples and says “6 is more.” Aligns to: K.CC.6 (direct).
• Mathematical Practices: MP.1–MP.6 threaded.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can sort a collection into categories using one attribute.
• I can count a group and tell how many using the last number.
• I can say which group has more, fewer, or the same.
• I can help make a simple data display and talk about what it shows.