Media Sorting Game

Learning to Recognize and Sort Different Types of Media

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Learning outcomes

	Competencies Media recognition Categorisation Understanding media functions Observation skills Critical thinking
	Target group 3 years and up Small groups In groups
	Required materials Printed or real-life examples of media: books, newspapers, photos, toy phone, tablet image, radio, headphones, etc. Three baskets or boxes labelled "You can read it", "You can watch it", "You can listen to it"
	Materials Printable cards showing different media objects

Description of the activity (step by step)

Preparation:

Gather children in a circle and show them different media items or pictures.

Briefly talk about each one: "What can we do with this? Can we read it, watch it, or listen to it?"

Introduce the sorting boxes or mats labelled with the three categories.

Implementation:

Invite children to take turns choosing an item and placing it in the correct category.

After sorting, review together and discuss: "Can a phone be used for watching or listening? What about books?"

Emphasize that media can have different purposes and we use them in various ways.

Variations and additional ideas

Play a guessing game: describe an item and let children guess which box it belongs to.

Background information and didactical perspective

This activity helps children understand the diversity of media and their different uses. It builds foundational media literacy skills by developing the ability to distinguish between media formats and recognize their purposes (informing, entertaining, or educating). Through sorting and discussion, children practice observation and categorization, supporting early critical thinking. It also introduces vocabulary related to media (book, photo, video, sound) and opens a dialogue about how media influence our daily lives.

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