Are these preschool math worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

Preschool Sorting Shapes Worksheet

About this worksheet

Sorting is early reasoning: a child has to notice one feature, hold it in mind, and judge every object against it. Preschoolers often start a group by color, notice a big object, and finish it by size without noticing the rule changed underneath them. These pages never say the rule out loud, because a page that names the rule has already answered itself. The rule is drawn instead. The ready sheet shows tiles that are identical in every way, so the only thing to match is obvious. The practice sheet keeps the shape and changes the color and the size of every tile, which is the exact moment a young child switches rules. The stretch sheet turns the question around and asks which tile does not belong, which is harder because the child has to work out the rule from the group before applying it. Ask for the reason out loud: these belong together because they all have three sides.

What your child will learn

Find what a group of objects has in common
Choose the object that belongs with a group
Ignore a color or a size that is not part of the rule
Spot the one object that breaks the rule

Worked example

Three tiles are red, blue and yellow, and small, large and medium. Only the shape repeats, so the shape is the rule and the picture with that shape belongs in the box.

Common mistake

Starting a group by shape and finishing it by color, so the rule changes halfway through.

Helpful hint

Say what is the same about every tile before you look at the choices.

Find Shapes by Their Parts Copy and Continue Patterns

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with sort shapes that belong together?: Starting a group by shape and finishing it by color, so the rule changes halfway through.
How can I help my child with sort shapes that belong together?: Say what is the same about every tile before you look at the choices.
Are these preschool math worksheets free to print?: Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

Preschool Sort Shapes That Belong Together Worksheet

Sort Shapes That Belong Together