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International Baccalaureate · PYP 0

Sorting, Picture Graphs and Chance

⌚ ~74 min ▢ 7 blocks ✓ 29 exercises ➣ Prerequisites : Comparing Quantities, Shapes and Solids
I Sorting Objects

Zoe empties her box of buttons onto the table.
Figure
How can Zoe put her buttons into groups?

There is more than one way. Zoe can put together the buttons of the same colour:
Figure
Or she can put together the buttons of the same size:
Figure


Definition — Sorting
To sort objects is to put together the objects that are alike in one way: the same colour, the same size or the same shape. The way we choose is the rule of the sort. Each group gets a label: a small card that shows what its objects share.
Figure
Example
Sort these shapes by colour.
Figure

Figure
We look only at the colour: the shape and the size do not count. There are 3 groups: 2 red shapes, 2 yellow shapes and 2 blue shapes.

Method — Finding the Odd One Out
Sometimes one object of a group does not follow the rule. To find it:
  1. we look at what the other objects share: the same colour, the same size or the same shape;
  2. the object that does not share it does not belong: it is the odd one out.
Figure
Here three shapes are big: the small square does not belong. The colours and the shapes are all mixed, so they give no rule.
Skills to practice
  • Following the Rule
  • Finding What Does Not Belong
II Graphs of Real Objects

The teacher asks the class: “Which fruit do you like best?” Each child stands in the line of the fruit they like best, one behind the other; the card under each line shows its fruit.
Figure
Which fruit do the most children like best?

The apple line is the longest: it has the most children. We count: 5 children like the apple best. The apple is the favourite fruit of the class. The children themselves make the picture: it is a living graph.


Definition — Graph
In a graph, each group has its own column, with its label card under the line. We put one object, one cube or one picture for each thing we count, one above the other in equal boxes, and all the columns start on the same line. The label cards are not counted. Then we see at a glance: the tallest column has the most, the shortest column has the fewest.
Figure
Method — Comparing Two Columns
  1. We count the objects in each column.
  2. The taller column has more.
  3. In the taller column, the objects with no partner beside them show how many more.
Figure
Here there are 5 balls and 3 stars. Two balls have no star beside them: there are 2 more balls than stars.
Example
Leo puts his toys in a graph.
Figure
How many more ducks than balls does Leo have?

We count: 4 ducks and 2 balls. Two ducks have no ball beside them: Leo has 2 more ducks than balls.

Skills to practice
  • Finding the Most or the Fewest
  • Counting in a Graph
III Picking without Looking
Method — Looking into the Bag
We pick one counter from the bag without looking. Before picking, we look at all the counters in the bag:
  • if all the counters are red, picking a red counter is certain;
  • if some counters are red and some are not, picking a red counter: maybe;
  • if no counter is red, picking a red counter is impossible.
Figure
Example — Putting the Red Counters in the Hoop
Here are the counters in the bag: 3 red counters and 2 blue counters. We pick one counter without looking.
Figure
Which counters make “the counter is red” happen? Put them in the hoop.

Figure
The 3 red counters go in the hoop; the 2 blue counters stay outside. Some counters are in the hoop and some are not: picking a red counter is maybe.
Every counter in the hoop: certain. An empty hoop: impossible.

Example
Here are the counters in the bag: 2 blue counters and 1 yellow counter. We pick one counter without looking.
Figure
Picking a yellow counter: certain, maybe or impossible?

One counter is yellow and two are blue: we can pick the yellow one, and we can also pick a blue one. Picking a yellow counter: maybe. And picking a red counter is impossible: there is no red counter in the bag.

Skills to practice
  • Filling the Hoop
  • Picking a Counter
IV Certain, Maybe or Impossible?

Look at these three pictures.
Figure
Tomorrow, will each of these things happen?

  • The sun rises every morning: tomorrow, it is certain.
  • Rain tomorrow can happen, and it can also not happen: the answer is maybe.
  • A cat has no wings: a cat that flies can never happen, it is impossible.


Definition — The Three Chance Words
When we ask “Will it happen?”, there are three answers.
  • Figure Certain: it will happen for sure.
  • Figure Maybe: it can happen, and it can also not happen. We also say that it is possible, but not certain.
  • Figure Impossible: it can never happen.
Example
Which one is impossible?
Figure

  • An ice cube left in the hot sun always melts: certain.
  • The butterfly can land on the flower, or fly away: maybe.
  • A shark lives in the water and has no legs: a shark that walks to school is impossible.
The impossible one is the shark.

Skills to practice
  • Judging Everyday Events
V Review & Quizz
Skills to practice
  • Quiz