5 Powerful Reasons to Use Sort Activities in the Upper Elementary Classroom

Sometimes, children don’t get what we are teaching. We can use textbooks, watch videos, pull out technology, or use many different strategies. Today, I have an activity to add to your long list that will engage your students, and to make sure your administration is happy everything is backed by research. I have five reasons your students should use sort activities in the upper elementary classroom. By the end of the sort activity, you will get students actively participating, having real discussions about their reasoning, and remembering the content!

Sort activities turn a dull, passive learning graphic organizer worksheets, such as a T-Chart, into an active learning, hands-on activity. And I don’t need to tell you that upper elementary needs structured, interactive learning experiences to deepen understanding. Using sort activities helps take pressure off students and allows them to process the content in a way that makes sense to them. This isn’t just a “fun” center or early finisher activity. Students think, talk, and remember.

Now that you have been given a “taste” of sort activities, let’s talk a bit more about why you should use them in your classroom. Along the way, you will see research that is cited that backs up the reasons.

1. Boosts Student Engagement Through Active Learning

As mentioned above, worksheets are easier to use, but they aren’t working and are considered passive learning. Don’t get me wrong; worksheets can be used, but it should be as little as possible. Research in educational psychology has shown that active learning leads to higher retention rates than passive methods like lecture-based teaching. (Bonwell & Eison, 1991)

Sort activities get students collaborating, moving, and thinking. Instead of just reading about reversible and irreversible changes, students can physically sort the examples on the marshmallows to the correct category as shown on the roasted marshmallows (well, I guess one isn’t roasted yet!). When finished, have a discussion where students justify their choices. (shown below)

Check out this Physical and Chemical Changes Sort on TpT

Citations:

• Bonwell, C. C., & Eison, J. A. (1991). Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom. ERIC Digest.

2. Strengthens Concept Mastery Through Categorization

While classifying information may seem simple and lower elementary, cognitive science tells us that our brains are wired for organization. Mental frameworks are created that help students retrieve and apply knowledge more effectively when they classify information (Bransford et al., 2000). For example, in geometry, students can’t just be told to memorize the definitions of polygons. But when students look at words, examples, and images and sort by those (such as shapes by attributes), they build a deeper understanding of how different polygons relate. So the next time it feels like it lacks a challenge, remind yourself that it is important for retrieval and application. You can easily make it challenging by using HOTS.

Check out this Polygon Sort Activity on TpT

Citations:

• Bransford, J. D., Brown, A. L., & Cocking, R. R. (2000). How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School. National Academy Press.

3. Supports Differentiation and Student Autonomy

Differentiation is one of my least favorite words, but in all honesty sort activities does naturally allow for it. The sort activities give multiple entry points based on their readiness levels. Tiering can also help by using a variety of terms to sort. For instance, some students may focus solely on light energy, while others may be okay with light and sound. In the forms of energy sort, some students may work on sorting images, while others might explain their classifications in writing. This flexibility ensures that every learner is appropriately challenged. Another option is to have students start small by only working with potential and kinetic energy, then working up to sound, light, and heat. As you an see below, there are many different options to move your students through.

Try This: Use a Forms of Energy Sort as a tiered activity—having students match definitions, draw examples, or create real-world connections based on their level of understanding.

Check out this Forms of Energy Sort on TpT

Citations:

• Tomlinson, C. A. (2001). How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed-Ability Classrooms. ASCD.

4. Encourages Collaborative Learning and Discussion

When students work together to sort information, they express their thinking, negotiate ideas, reflect on their experience and learning, and solidify their understanding. This aligns with Vygotsky’s Social Learning Theory, which emphasizes the importance of peer interaction in cognitive development (Vygotsky, 1978). Sort activities are perfect for small-group centers, partner work, or whole-class discussions.

Try This: Use a Balanced vs. Unbalanced Forces Sort in small groups, prompting students to defend their answers before coming to a group consensus.

Check out this Force and Motion Sort on TpT

Citations:

• Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press.

5. Makes Assessment Effortless and Informative

Let’s face it—traditional assessments don’t always give us the best picture of student understanding. Sort activities double as formative assessments, allowing you to quickly see who’s getting it and who needs more support. When students struggle to place certain items, it reveals misconceptions in real-time, giving you the opportunity to address them immediately.

Try This: Use a Mixtures and Solutions Sort as an exit ticket to gauge understanding before moving on to a new lesson.

Check out this Mixtures and Solutions Sort on TpT

Citations:

• Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (1998). Inside the Black Box: Raising Standards Through Classroom Assessment. Phi Delta Kappan.

A Simple Strategy with Big Impact

Sort activities aren’t just fun and engaging—they’re backed by research, support differentiated learning, and provide powerful insights into student thinking. Whether you use them in science, math, or even ELA, they offer a low-prep, high-impact way to deepen learning in the upper elementary classroom.

So why not give them a try? Your students will love the interactive experience, and you’ll love the results.

Do you already use sort activities in your classroom? Drop a comment and share your favorite strategies! 🎉

Looking for ready-to-use sort activities to save time? Check out these resources:

• Reversible vs. Irreversible Changes Sort
• Polygon Sort by Attributes
• Force and Motion Sort
• Forms of Energy Sort
• Mixtures and Solutions Sort