Young children are just learning to sort when they start preschool. Start with learning to sort by color, and then move on to other sorting, such as sorting by beginning sounds, sorting by quantity, sorting by patterns and sorting by attribute.
Sorting is such an important early math skill. As adults, we sort all the time! We sort the mail into keep and trash. We sort the laundry, the bills, and the utensils in the drawer. Our brains sort bits of information into categories for easy retrieval. These five activities are perfect for young students just starting to grasp the concept of sorting.
1. Circle Time Sort by Color
An easy way to introduce color sorting with students is to do a scavenger hunt. Children love to be active participants during circle time. Choose colored cardstock and ask the students to find something around the room that is the color red. When they find a red object, they return to the carpet and set it on the red cardstock. Continue the activity for all of the colors.
2. Light Table Color Sorting
A light table is an excellent addition to a preschool classroom offering endless activities for young children. Just adding simple manipulatives will put a new twist on color sorting fun. Click the pictures for any additional available resources.
Use colored pom-poms for children to sort into colored ice cube trays. Add tongs for extra fine motor practice. 
Incorporate nutrition into color sorting activities. Print pictures of fruit and vegetables onto transparency paper. Make sections with colored tape on the light table. Children not only practice sorting by color but learn about healthy food. 
Start simply with only 3 colors to sort. Use a clear plastic divided tray with tissue paper of the colors you have chosen taped to the underside of the tray. The tissue paper is thin enough to be seen clearly on the light table. The children sort the pastel links into the correct matching color. For this simple color sorting activity, use colored plastic cups and plastic swizzle sticks or drink stirrers. The sticks look so bright on the light table. Children choose a stick and put it into the appropriate cup. These citrus shapes are plastic ice cubes and look awesome on the light table. Children use tongs to choose a fruit piece and put it into the correct container. Add the color to add some literacy into the color sorting activity.
3. Sorting Colors at the Sensory Table
A sensory table has many benefits for young learners and is one of the most popular activities in the classroom. Add counters, tongs, baskets, and other accessories to the sensory base to teach color sorting through sensory play.
Use a base of colored pom-poms and add accessories for color sorting. Children use their fine motor skills to pinch the colored pom-pom with the tongs and add it to the correctly colored water bottle. Pom-poms lend themselves to color sorting. Add some family counters and houses to the pom-poms for more color sorting practice. Black beans are inexpensive and can be found in the grocery store. Adding colored counters like these fruit counters make a quick setup color sorting activity. Mini-colored star erasers added to the black bean base with colorful rockets make an out of this world color sorting activity. 
Chickpeas can be found in the grocery store and are easy to dye into rainbow colors. Tape colored circles into a muffin pan to make a simple color sorting activity.
4. Bulletin Boards can Sort by Color Too!
Interactive bulletin boards utilize vertical classroom wall space while allowing young students to move, cooperate, and learn in a developmentally appropriate way. Color sorting on the bulletin board is a fantastic way to practice this essential skill. Click each picture below to find available related resources.
Use felt to cut out fall-colored tree shapes and attach them to a bulletin board. Either create or buy some corresponding felt-colored leaves. Students choose a leaf and place it onto the felt tree. 
Create a felt rainbow to attach to a bulletin board. Students sort colored shapes onto the correct color of the rainbow. This is an excellent addition to a colors of the rainbow unit. 
Children choose a picture card and identify the color of the object. Then they hang the picture onto the pushpin of the matching crayon. Continue until all pictures are identified and sorted. 
This bright and beautiful color sorting magnet board will instantly cheer up any classroom! Children sort the magnetic pictures into the correctly colored paint pot.
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Colors Preschool Unit
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5. Sort by Color at Centers
Every center in the classroom has the potential to work on color sorting. Set up invitations to play around the preschool classroom, focusing on color sorting.
Children choose an apple counter and identify the color. Then they place the apple into the corresponding section of a 3 part tray. Continue until all apples are sorted. Use circle silicone drink coasters from the party store and rainbow chip clips. Students work on strengthening their hand muscles by connecting the clips to the coasters! A great way to practice color sorting. 
Don’t forget the block center. Children can match the colored crochet balls to the corresponding crocheted basket. Children love to explore the world around them. Set up the science center with colorful leaves and magnifying glasses. Students sort the colors of the leaves. Jelly beans are a fun math manipulative and great for color sorting. Give each child their own little cup or bag of beans to sort. 
This color sorting center is similar to the color matching bulletin board but on a smaller scale.
Additional Resources for Color Sorting
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