What is a WORD SORT

A word sort is an individual or small group activity in which students sort words by linking to their prior knowledge. The sorts advance student knowledge, are active and fun, are an analytical and implicit approach to learning, are beneficial to ELL students, as well as being supported by research.

Words Sorts benefit all students and can be used across the curriculum for a variety of topics.

Types of WORD SORTS

There are two basic types of word sorts, Open Sorts and Closed Sorts.

👉 Open Sorts:

The teacher provides only the (list of) words. Students work together to determine commonalities and describe the categories. Examples of an open sort open student in an elementary reading class: Number of Syllables, Part of Speech, Alphabetical Order

👉 Closed Sort:

The teacher provides categories (specific features) to students. Students match the words to the feature to create word collections. Examples of an open sort open student in an elementary social studies - geographic features: desert, forest, grassland.

There are additional types of word sorts that include Speed Sort, Blind Sort, Writing Sort, and Word Hunt

👉 Speed Sort:
Students are timed as they quickly sort words into the correct categories.The teacher provides the words. Examples: An elementary Reading class may be putting words in Alphabetical Order, a Science class may be choosing all reptiles, or Art class sort all Primary Colors

👉 Blind Sort:

Students are given guide words and are to write/spell each under the correct category as another student calls out the words without showing the word. An elementary Reading class may be: Show the student a word card, and the student, without saying the word, would place it beneath the proper heading. Headings: cute play smooth Words: mute relay tooth

👉 Writing Sort: Students are given guide words and are to write/spell each under the correct category as another student calls out the words without showing the word. An elementary Science class may be: Show the student a word card, and the student, without saying the word, would write beneath the proper Headings: star constellation Words: Andromeda Milky Way

👉 Word Hunt:
Students search their own reading and writing for words that are examples of the skill currently being studied. An elementary Social Studies class may be: Headings: People Places Environment Words: Issac Newton Rocky Mountain Desert

SAMPLE Cross Curricular WORD SORT Topics

👉 READING/LANGUAGE ARTS 👉 Social Studies

Number of Syllables     Types of Communities
Parts of Speech             Landforms
Common/Proper Nouns    Natural or Man Made
Alphabetical Order            Past or Present

👉 Math     👉  Science

Even or Odd Numbers States of Matter
Operations Forms of Precipitation

Types of Angles Living or Non Living

Add or Subtract Vertebrate or Invertebrate

RESOURCES