Sérier-trier-grouper : La mise en oeuvre du processus de classification par des enfants âgés de 3 à 5 ans

Seriation, sorting and grouping are processes that children begin to use at an early age. These processes, related to classification, become more complex over time—when the nature of the objects to be classified becomes more complex, for example. This article aims to describe and analyze how children aged 3 to 5 years use classification processes. We characterize their mathematical activity by referencing the trio of processes described by Drouard (Drouard, Grand N 86:13–32, 2010)—seriation, sorting, and grouping—and observing which processes the children apply through their actions. The study set up an open-ended task where the children had to create a sorting method while playing “grocery store” by organizing food in the stalls according to their own criteria. The results showed that the children used complex actions, applying grouping and sorting processes. While some had difficulties recognizing and naming the attributes used in their classification system, others showed advanced skills and even created sub-groups.