Make a Toy Sorter

Today we are looking at filtering. Instead of using a standard sieve or colander and sieving foodstuffs I thought we’d use toys to make a fun toy sorter filter!

How to make your own toy sorter

We found some old cardboard boxes and cut different sized holes in each one. Then I asked the children to find me lots of different sized toys. We talked about what we thought would happen and which toys would fit through the different boxes.

Then we filtered the toys, starting with the box with the largest holes.

The toys separated into three piles. The middle two piles looked very similar in size. We discussed why this might be, and decided the shape of the toy and the angle it was at when being filtered would affect whether it passed through the hole.

How does a toy sorter work?

Todays science investigation was very simple, but the concept of size and separating by size is quite important for young children to grasp. 

You could try getting children to line up objects in order of size and shape before filtering and ask them to predict what will happen.

More Easy Science for Kids

Learn more about filtering by cleaning water by filtration

Try one of our easy Early Years science experiments! We’ve got Pirate, Under the Sea, People who Help Us and Fairy Tale themed activities.