Students must work together to sort objects, listen to each other, and take turns as they relate the attributes of the manipulatives to a sorting activity, share, and record what was done. This could involve using a certain number of each shape, only one shape but no limit to number or size, only one size but a variety of shapes or colours, etc. Go on a scavenger hunt in the school, schoolyard or surrounding neighbourhood. Put found materials in a bag. Allow classmates to feel the object and describe what they touched.
Children can help develop a word list of descriptors for objects.
These could be tasted, classified by outer appearance or inside once they are ready to serve. Even the pits of fruits allow for unique ways to classify some fruits. Students must orally describe objects, listen, and take turns as they relate the attributes heard to known objects. Crackers may be square, round, triangular, or other shapes. They might also be various colours and sizes.