Venn Diagrams for kids is a fun way to learn how to classify objects into given categories! We’ll be doing lots of comparing and contrasting as we practice sorting. Perfect for Kindergarten and homeschoolers. Click through to get your FREE printable.
As you probably know a Venn diagram illustrates the relationships between groups of different things. A Venn Diagram consists of two or more circles that often overlap in the middle. A rule is set for each circle and objects or numbers are sorted and placed into circles according to the rule.
This resource works well with
HOW DO VENN DIAGRAMS WORK?
Suppose you may have a container of plastic animals. You can sort the animals by those that live in water and those that live on the land. You may also have some animals that live on the land and in the water. Those can be placed in the overlap between the two circles.
Venn diagrams can get quite complicated with multiple overlapping circles, but we are going to keep things simple for our Kinders and stick with two.
FREE VENN DIAGRAM FOR KIDS (SORTING ACTIVITY)
You can sort anything you wish, but we have created a FREE PRINTABLE with the cutest snowmen, so it is perfect for this time of year. The snowmen can be sorted in all kinds of ways.
MATERIALS
- The Venn Diagrams for kids free printable
- Cardstock
- Laminator (optional)
PREPARATION
- Download the file and print onto cardstock
- If you wish, you can laminate the sheets for durability
- Cut out the cards.
- Decide how you will sort the snowmen. The recording sheet is editable, so you can enter the sorting role in each circle. We entered the colors the snowmen are wearing, but you change that as you wish.
- Think about how many cards you want to use. You should have some cards that fit in each section of the Venn diagram and some that don’t belong. Don’t use too many cards or it will be overwhelming.
HOW TO USE THE VENN DIAGRAM
You may want to start this activity by doing it with small groups.
- Place recording sheet and point to each circle in turn naming the rule. Invite the students to help you sort the snowmen.
- Hold up each snowman in turn and ask the children to tell you where they should go and why. Begin with the snowmen that can go in one circle or the other.
- Hold up a snowman that goes in the overlap and invite the children to tell you where the card should go. Point out that these snowmen could go in either set.
- See if anyone realizes that these cards can go in the overlapping section. Ask them to explain their reason. Observe that the snowmen can go in both circles, so they will go in the middle where both circles can overlap.
- Invite students to count the cards in each section and write the number in the boxes.
USING THE ACTIVITY IN A MATH CENTER
You can place the materials in a math center for independent practice in sorting. Place each set of cards in a separate plastic bag and provide different sheets. If you place the sheets in dry erase pockets they can be re-used. You will need to provide some dry erase markers.
SOME WAYS TO SORT WITH THE VENN DIAGRAM
Snowmen wearing
Circle 1 | Circle 2 | Overlap |
Red | Blue | Red and Blue |
Green | Blue | Green and Blue |
Red | Green | Green and Red |
Snowmen with
Circle 1 | Circle 2 | Overlap |
Arms | Smiles | Arms and Smiles |
Scarves | Buttons | Scarves and Buttons |
What ideas do you have?
THE SKILLS STUDENT WILL PRACTICE
Common core: Classify objects into given categories: count the number of objects in each category and sort the categories by count
Children will also practice.
- Comparing, and contrasting items.
- Displaying and sharing information using the Venn diagram.
NEED SOME MORE SORTING ACTIVITIES?
WANT TO MAKE THIS PART OF A SNOWMAN THEME?
YOUR TURN
How will you use the free Venn Diagram for kids? What will you sort?