Reinforcing numeracy through a Sorting Network

Steps

1. Draw the network on the ground. Six circles at the start, lines that lead into boxes, six circles at the end.
2. Give six children one number card each, in a mixed-up order, and let them stand at the start.
3. Two children follow their lines until they meet at a box. They say hello and show their cards.
4. The child with the smaller number leaves by the left line. The bigger leaves by the right.
5. Everyone keeps following lines and meeting in boxes until they reach the end.
6. Look: are they in order? Try again with new cards.

Talk about it

• Which jobs go faster if more people help?
• Which do not?
• Did you need to know all the numbers to take part?