Fun with Character: Organizing Cards

Divide the students into small groups of 4 – 7 students per group. Give each group a deck of playing cards. The only instruction is that they are to organize (sort) the cards. You may also use half-decks if time is an issue. When each group is done, compare the different strategies for sorting. Did they sort by color, suit, number vs. face card? Did they hear what the other groups were talking about and all do the same thing? How confident are they that they did the right thing? Point out that to organize or sort something, they need to know how an item will be used. Whatever the rule they used to sort the cards is correct if they consistently applied the same rules to all of the cards, and each card could only fall into a single category. Use the items in the classroom to discuss why things are sorted together. Are all the art supplies together (sorted by purpose)? Is the garbage can by the door? (convenient for the janitor to empty). Why wouldn’t you put all the purple things in the room together? Are all your books for your afternoon classes together in your desk? (based on when they are used).

To process this activity, ask these or similar questions:

• Was it difficult to sort when you didn’t know why you were sorting?

• How difficult would it be to find things if we didn’t organize them or organized them on the wrong criteria?

• Will you remember the card sort activity the next time you have to organize something?