The idea, step by step
Collect carefully
Collect one answer from each person if your question asks for one choice. Mark an answer as soon as you receive it.
Here we record one colour for each card. Each card appears once in the list.
| Card | Colour |
|---|---|
| 1 | Blue |
| 2 | Red |
| 3 | Blue |
| 4 | Green |
| 5 | Red |
| 6 | Blue |
Sort by one feature
Put blue with blue, red with red, and green with green. Count each group.
After sorting, check that all six cards are still included. Sorting changes the order, not the total.
| Colour | Cards |
|---|---|
| Blue | 3 |
| Red | 2 |
| Green | 1 |
A common trap
Count a card again when you move it into a group.
Instead: Each card is one piece of data. Moving it does not make a second card.
See the thinking
Sort the blue cards
How many of the six cards are blue?
| Card | Colour |
|---|---|
| 1 | Blue |
| 2 | Red |
| 3 | Blue |
| 4 | Green |
| 5 | Red |
| 6 | Blue |
- Find blue on cards 1, 3 and 6.
- Count those cards once each.
Check a collection
Six children give one answer each. Your page has only five answers. What should you check?
- Six one-choice responses should give six records.
- Find the missing record rather than inventing an answer.
Check your understanding
The groups have 3 blue, 2 red and 1 green card. How many cards are there altogether?
Show answer
6.
3 + 2 + 1 = 6, matching the original collection.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
Read the questions online
- Use the card list. How many red cards are there?
Six colour cards, recorded once each. Card Colour 1 Blue 2 Red 3 Blue 4 Green 5 Red 6 Blue - Which cards belong in the green group?
Six colour cards, recorded once each. Card Colour 1 Blue 2 Red 3 Blue 4 Green 5 Red 6 Blue - Each of four children gives one answer. Should the list have four responses or eight responses?
- After sorting 6 counters, a child counts only 5. What should the child do?
- Sort these choices into groups: apple, pear, apple, banana, pear.
- Why should you record an answer as soon as it is given?
Read the worked solutions
- Use the card list. How many red cards are there?
Six colour cards, recorded once each. Card Colour 1 Blue 2 Red 3 Blue 4 Green 5 Red 6 Blue Cards 2 and 5 are red.
2. - Which cards belong in the green group?
Six colour cards, recorded once each. Card Colour 1 Blue 2 Red 3 Blue 4 Green 5 Red 6 Blue It is the only green card in the list.
Card 4. - Each of four children gives one answer. Should the list have four responses or eight responses?
Each child gives one response.
Four responses. - After sorting 6 counters, a child counts only 5. What should the child do?
The total should not change when sorting.
Check for a missed or misplaced counter. - Sort these choices into groups: apple, pear, apple, banana, pear.
Count each of the five choices once.
Apple: 2; pear: 2; banana: 1. - Why should you record an answer as soon as it is given?
Careful recording preserves the actual responses.
It helps avoid forgetting an answer or counting it twice.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 / SA Curriculum 2026
Year 1 categorical questions, response collection, lists, one-to-one displays and comparison of frequencies.
Official curriculum source ↗