PHYSICAL PRODUCT
Living/Non-Living Sorting
Combines well with
Living/Non-Living Sorting
Our Living/Non-Living Sorting cards are real-photo cards students sort into two groups: things that are alive and things that are not. It is the broadest category in Montessori classification work and the natural place to begin before plants and animals, vertebrates and invertebrates, and the vertebrate classes.
The picture cards have no printed words, so pre-readers can sort by looking and discussing. When students begin reading, add the two sorting labels so they read each category name as they work.
What's included
- 16 cards: 7 living things, 7 non-living things, and 2 sorting labels
- Picture cards have real photos and no text, which can distract pre-readers
- Approx. 3¾" x 4¼" (picture cards) and 3½" x 2" (sorting labels)
- Eco-laminated with a food-grade laminate and rounded corners
- Sturdy clear reclosable bag for storage
- Lesson plan included
You can display these cards in our medium cloth pouches (sold separately).
Also available in Spanish.
Created by a Montessori teacher and a zoologist. Eco-printed in our rural New England office.
Made in the USA. CPSIA compliant.
Note: Photos may change from those pictured.
Why does sorting matter for reading?
Vocabulary and background knowledge are two of the language strands that support reading comprehension (Scarborough, 2001). Sorting builds both. Students practice their vocabulary by naming and discuss what makes something alive, knowledge they will draw on when they later read about the natural world.
Learning how words relate to one another through classification activities is also part of how we build gist and the word webs that support literacy.
How do you use living/non-living sorting cards?
First, make sure students know the name of each picture, using the three-period lesson if needed. Then discuss what living things have in common: they grow, need food and water, and make more of their own kind. Finally, invite them to sort the cards into two groups. For students who are reading, place the "living" and "non-living" labels at the top of each column. When this sort is comfortable, move on to plant/animal kingdom sorting.
What ages is this for?
Typically ages 4 and up. Pre-readers sort the pictures while students who are reading add-in the sorting labels. The cards also work well for English learners and in intervention settings.
What is an album badge?
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