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Unit 2 Classification in Early Mathematics

This document outlines a unit on classification in early mathematics for students, focusing on recognizing properties, applying number systems, and developing problem-solving skills. It emphasizes the importance of classification in understanding shapes, colors, and numbers, as well as its real-life applications. The document also discusses the differences between classifying and sorting, and highlights the skills developed through these activities.

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7 views15 pages

Unit 2 Classification in Early Mathematics

This document outlines a unit on classification in early mathematics for students, focusing on recognizing properties, applying number systems, and developing problem-solving skills. It emphasizes the importance of classification in understanding shapes, colors, and numbers, as well as its real-life applications. The document also discusses the differences between classifying and sorting, and highlights the skills developed through these activities.

Uploaded by

noabebmathew
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Basic Mathematics

Unit 2:

Classification in early Mathematics


(JP 2 ) Semester 1

Year: 2025
Dr A Niipare
Objectives

At the end of the unit, students should be able to:

 recognize the properties of each classification


 apply the number system in mathematical operations.
 develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills
 understand the real-life applications of number classification
 enhance mathematical communication
Introduction
Classification in math involves categorizing objects and items according to
certain characteristics.
Classification is where objects are systematically organized into groups
according to fixed criteria.
For example, if a child has a mixture of red and blue items and they were
classifying them according to their colours, they would be actively seeking out
red objects to classify into their red category and blue objects for their blue
category.
• It is a pre-number learning concept and teaches students about the world
around them.
• When students start completing classification activities, they will begin to
learn how to identify different shapes and colours, too.
• Classification helps students to improve a range of different math skills,
including how to understand the connections and relationships between
different objects, sorting and grouping skills, and identification skills among
others.
Examples of classification

Three examples of classification in math are:

1. Shapes
• Shapes can be classified in all sorts of ways, but during Pre- grade, your students
should be learning how to classify shapes according to their various different
properties.
• This could be the name of the shapes, how many sides or corners they have, or
whether they are 2D or 3D.

2. Colours
• Colour identification is another pre-number math skill that students learn during Pre-K,
and classification activities help to reinforce what students have learned about
colours.
For example, students may be given a pile of coloured objects to sort through and be
required to put all of the objects that are primary colours (red, blue, and yellow) in one
pile, and all of the objects that are secondary colours (purple, green, and orange) in
another pile.
Examples of classification

3. Odd and even numbers


• Students can easily classify numbers into the categories of odd or even
numbers by looking at the characteristics of the numbers that they are
classifying.

For example, odd numbers cannot be divided by two and the last digit is always
a 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9, and even numbers can always be divided equally by two, with
the last digit of an even number always being 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.
Three examples of classification in everyday life

1. Eating healthily
• When people make the decision to eat healthily, they automatically start
classifying foods into two (or maybe three) categories.
• Foods such as vegetables and fruit will get classified into the healthy
category, whilst junk food will be assigned to the unhealthy category.

2. Household items
• Generally speaking, certain household objects are classified when it comes to
what room they belong in within a house.
• For example, a toilet brush, bath towels, and body wash are all usually
classified by what they are used for and kept in the bathroom.
• However, cooking utensils, oven mitts, and food items will be kept in the
kitchen, as they have different uses compared to bathroom items.
Continued…

3. Data classification
• Data classification involves analysing data and organizing it into categories
based on certain characteristics, such as meta-data, file type, contents, and
more.
• Data classification helps companies to understand their data better, answer
questions about their data, and more.
When should children learn about classification?

• Students begin learning about classification before they start learning about
numbers, as classifying and sorting activities do not need to involve numbers.

For example, students can classify objects according to their colours,


sizes, or shape. When a student is aged between three and four years old
they should start to learn how to classify things based on one simple
characteristic.

• As students progress through their education, they will start to learn how to
classify things according to more than one characteristic and will be able to
classify things into multiple different categories, rather than just two.
Why is classification in Math important for pre- scholars?

• Learning about classification in math is important for pre- scholars because it


teaches them a range of thinking skills and lays the foundations for future
problem-solving activities.

• Classification in math teaches students how to understand certain things


about the world around them and helps to prepare them for their math
education in pre-school and beyond.

• Classifying is a pre-numbers skill that is crucial to your students’ development,


as students learn about numerical concepts through classification and sorting,
as well as develop the ability to group numbers and sets.
Five skills students develop while learning about classification

• Classifying skills
• Logical thinking skills
• Counting skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Identification and comparison skills
Classification vs. Sorting

Classifying and sorting are often taught together, but whilst they are very
similar to one another, they still differ slightly, and you should be aware of this
before starting to teach your students.
What’s the difference between classifying and sorting
in math?
• When students classify items, they are organizing them into predetermined
categories. This means that generally, students will be looking for a specific
characteristic in an item before placing it into the correct category.
For example, if you’re classifying 2D and 3D shapes, students will be actively
looking for shapes that have 2D characteristics so that they know they can
classify them into their 2D shape category.
• When students are sorting items, they are simply identifying similarities and
differences between a group of items and placing them into corresponding piles
according to these similarities and differences.
For example, if students had a pile of 20 coloured items, they could sort
through these items one by one and organize them into groups according to their
colours, so red items would go in one pile, blue would go in another pile, and so on.
The importance of teaching pre-schoolers about sorting

• Sorting is an important pre-number cognitive skill that learners develop


throughout pre- school.

• It teaches students how to identify simple similarities and differences between


a group of objects, such as their colour or shape, even if they cannot verbalize
what these similarities and differences are.

• Helps develop visual perceptual skills, thinking and memory skills and it is
important to help the brain with attention and problem solving skills.

• Helps children to learn about early representation and problem solving.


Home work

Write engaging activities for teaching the classification in Maths


Resources

1. Khan Academy. (n.d.). The Number System. Retrieved from


www.khanacademy.org
2. Stewart, J., Redlin, L., & Watson, S. (2015). College Algebra: Concepts and
Contexts. Cengage Learning.
3. Ministry of Education. (2015). Pre-primary Curriculum: NIED. Okahandja
4. Ministry of Education. (2015). Junior primary phase: NIED. Okahandja

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