There are so many ways that you can use card sorts in your classroom. I use card sorts all the time, and find that even I sometimes have a hard time deciding how we are going to use them in class that day. It largely depends on the mood of the students and how exhausted we are as a class.
What is a card sort?
A card sort is a few pieces of paper cut into cards. And each of those cards has something written on it. Let’s say I’m teaching the difference between ionic and covalent bonding. Each card would have a compound on it that either has ionic bonds or covalent bonds. The kids would then literally pick up and manipulate the cards into their categories.
Creating a card sort
I usually have my card sorts premade for students to use. I create the cards, print them on colored paper, cut them out and laminate them. I like to have them around for early finishers, and test review. I’m the type of person that would rather spend some time putting it all together once, and never having to worry about it again. I print the same card sort on a few different colors of paper so I can have multiple sets. This helps me to identify which set a card belongs to when it inevitably falls on the floor. Each of the sets is identical, just different colors.
Storing a card sort
I typically store my card sorts in these photo boxes. I don’t like how ziplocks need to be replaced often, and the cards slide all over the place in folders. I think a reasonable alternative would be these orange clasp envelopes that can be sealed with the brass fastener. Just don’t store the cards in a hot place over the summer and have the glue seal shut!
Using card sorts individually
I believe there is a lot of value in having kids be able to work alone. I let my kids work alone more often than most teachers do, I think. Individual students can grab a card sort and physically move the cards from one pile to another. I will walk around the room, and check their work. When their cards are approved, the students will write down a few examples from each category into their notebooks so they have the final answers. I like this better than a worksheet because it’s a bit more interactive. Plus it gets the kids second guessing themselves when I say “3 cards are out of place.” And I like that! It helps them to rationalize WHY they’ve put cards into certain places.
Students holding on to card sorts
I use interactive notebooks in my chemistry classroom, and the kids actually love them. I will sometimes print out the cards for kids, and have them cut them out on their own. Then we construct paper envelopes that they glue into their notebooks. The students can store the cards in their envelopes so they can use the cards again to study. I love this! You just need a really good envelope that seals (but not permanently) so that they don’t fall out of the notebook.
Using card sorts in groups
I love simply assigning kids to work together to sort through the cards and categorize them. When kids work together they talk a bit more and are able to justify to their partner about how and why a card goes into a particular category. I sometimes step this up by telling the kids, I will only come by to check their work twice, so they need to be sure about their answers. Another thing is to have the kids justify one card each when you come around to check. I read Whole Brain Teaching and it puts a strong emphasis on kids teaching each other by speaking. I don’t use whole brain as it is written (I think it’s pretty elementary) but I do try to utilize pieces of it that work well in high school.
Playing games with card sorts
Silent Work
One of my favorite ways to have students use a card sort is silently. I know that kind of defeats the purpose of all that talking I just mentioned, but hear me out. When students can’t talk to each other, they are forced to look internally for help, meaning the kids need to rely on themselves. I like doing this where kids need to work together but silently. I also like to combine this activity with the next one.
Row Race
Row races are some of my favorite activities that are SUPER easy to implement in a classroom. I use this activity with worksheets too, but I love doing it with card sorts. All of the students in a row, lab group or table have to take turns moving one of the cards into the proper category. They can also fix errors their peers have made in the activity. Each student gets to move just one card per turn and then needs to move to the back of the line. The first group to successfully complete the card sort wins the competition. Students don’t have to win a prize. When I was in school, one of my teachers literally gave out paperclips, and because it was a prize we went crazy for those things.
Spoons
Remember the card game spoons? The goal was to get 4 cards of a kind. The dealer starts deals 4 cards to each player, and then begins by picking up a card. Based on the cards in hand, the dealer would either pass the card, or keep it and discard one from their hand. The card gets passed to the next player. Each player picks up the card passed to them in a fast paced game. The first to collect four of a kind reaches into the center and grabs a spoon. Then the remaining spoons are a free-for-all. There should be one less spoon than there are players, so whoever doesn’t get a spoon is out.
We play this game with the card sorts as well. When there are enough cards in the set to collect three or four of a kind. My students LOVE this game and literally beg to play more. Depending on the number of cards in a set, students will need to pair three compounds with ionic bonds as the cards are passed through the circle. I have my “loser” student without the spoon be the judge of the student who got the three of a kind. This way all of my students participate in some way. I will also create “losers brackets” so kids aren’t sitting out watching their classmates play.
Conclusion
There are so many ways to utilize a card sort instead of a boring worksheet. I’m sure there are even more than this! If I come up with any more ways to use card sorts I’ll be sure to write a new post and link it here. Until then, get to the dollar store and get cheap spoons for the kids to play with! Or use plastic spoons from the cafeteria on top of a sheet of foil. The noise makes it much more fun!
I find myself able to make all of these fun activities for my students because I have so much time set aside for it. I use The All Star Planning curriculum writing method to free up my contract hours so I’m able to do more things like these card sorts and less time lesson planning. You can check out the basics of the method in this free masterclass!
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