Venn Diagrams

Our work with sorting into "Not Boxes" last week involved sorting by one attribute at a time.  We sorted buttons that had holes from buttons that did not have holes, lids with stickers from lids without stickers, etc.  Today we began sorting using two attributes and introduced Venn Diagrams to accommodate this more complex sorting. 

I modelled using sorting hoops on the floor-- trying to put lids with stickers in one hoop ad lids with writing in another hoop, only to bump up against the reality that some lids had both stickers and writing and therefore belonged in both hoops, leading then to the creation of a Venn Diagram with overlapping hoops. 

Then with the kids' help, we sorted green lids and lids with screw tops.  This time we recorded the sorting on chart paper.  Then they worked independently on sorting lids and recording their own work on paper.  As with the "not box" work, the sorting is done on Venn Diagrams copied onto yellow paper which I refer to as "mats" and recorded on Venn Diagrams copied on white paper which I call "recording sheets."  The "recording sheets" have lines for writing on a name and date as well as a label for each circle.