Developed by:  Adam Rebh

Level:  K - 2

Counting and Sorting
With Jellybeans

Standards
 

Learning Expectations

 This activity will help students acquire competencies which relate to the following standards:

     5.  Career Information and Career Goals
     6.  Knowledge and Skills to Achieve Career Goals
 

The student will:

    5.1  Identify jobs within the classroom 
    5.2  Identify jobs of workers in the community
    5.3  Recognize the job tasks of school personnel and community workers
    6.5  Identify how school performance relates to the world of work

General Approach

 The general approach is that children will sort and count jellybeans, followed by a discussion.

Activity Steps

     1.  Prepare a bag of five yellow, pink, and purple jellybeans, four orange and green jellybeans, and two red jellybeans for each student.
    2.  Give each student a bag of sorted jellybeans.
    3.  Have the children dump out their jellybeans, instructing them not to eat any of them.
    4.  Direct the students to sort the jellybeans by color.
    5.  Have them count and separate three orange jellybeans.
    6.  Have the students count and separate five yellow jellybeans.
    7.  Instruct the children to count and separate four pink jellybeans. Allow the students to eat the last pink and orange jellybeans, stressing the importance of eating the pink and orange jellybeans.
    8.  Instruct the children to count and sort four purple jellybeans and one red jellybean.
    9.  Direct the students to sort out three green jellybeans, and inform them it is okay to eat the one red, purple, and green jellybean remaining.

Lead the children in a tie-in discussion, using the following lead questions.  After going around to make sure everyone has the same jellybeans remaining, allow the students to eat them during the discussion.

    1.  Can anyone think of a time they have sorted things at home? Putting away toys?  Playing games?
    2.  What about at school or in the classroom?  Toys?  Supplies?
    3.  Do you think people may do these things at work?  Secretaries? Postal workers?  Cashiers? 

Time Required

 This activity will take about 20 minutes.  The children may be able to count and sort the jellybeans in 5-10 minutes, leaving 10-15 minutes for discussion.

Resources Needed

 1.  Jellybeans
2.  Bags

Performance Indicators

 Students will be able to:

Talk about how this activity relates to doing things at home, school and work.
Describe jobs in the community related to counting and sorting.
Recognize tasks of school personnel