NCERT Joyful Mathematics, Class 1, textbook pages 120–121

How to teach Class 1 Maths Chapter 13, So Many Toys, at home

Sorting and counting data, taught with things you already have at home: a 10-minute activity, a game for the week, a 5-day plan and the mistakes to watch for.

one square per toy

NCERT Class 1 Maths Chapter 13 So Many Toys: what it teaches

Data handling at this age means sorting things into groups, counting each group, and answering “which has more?”. It is the first step towards reading graphs.

Why it matters later. Sorting, counting and comparing groups is how graphs and data start. Tally marks and bar graphs in Class 2 and 3 grow straight from this.

See it: this chapter in pictures

cars: 4dolls: 4lined up one to one: equal
Line groups up one to one before comparing.
carsdollsbearsballs
One square for each toy makes a picture graph.
7 people like mango3 like bananaa family survey
Ask the family a question and keep count.

You need

  • a box of toys
  • sticky notes or small paper squares
  • a sheet of paper

Tonight’s 10 minutes

  1. Sort the toys into kinds: cars, dolls, animals, balls. Count each group.
  2. Make a picture graph: one sticky note per toy, stacked in a column for each kind.
  3. Ask comparing questions: Which kind has the most? Are there more cars than dolls?
  4. Ask the family a question (favourite fruit) and record answers the same way.

Words to use

  • most
  • fewest
  • more than
  • less than
  • equal to

Watch for

  • Judging by which row looks longer. Spread-out toys look like more. Line them up one-to-one before comparing.

What it sounds like at home

A short example of the conversation. Your words will differ; the questions are what matter.

YouWhich kind of toy do we have most of?

Your childCars, the car column is tallest.

YouHow many more cars than dolls?

Your child5 cars and 3 dolls… 2 more.

YouAre any two groups equal?

Your childNo, all different.

A game for this week: Family survey

  1. Pick a question: favourite fruit, colour or game.
  2. Your child asks everyone at home and nearby relatives.
  3. Record one sticky note or tick per answer in columns.
  4. Ask: which is most? least? are any equal?

A 5-day plan, 10 minutes a day

  1. Day 1Sort a toy box into kinds and count.
  2. Day 2Make a sticky-note picture graph.
  3. Day 3Compare columns: more, less, equal.
  4. Day 4Family survey game.
  5. Day 5Draw your graph and explain it to someone.

Everyday moments to practise

  • Counting colours of cars on the road.
  • Family vote for dinner.
  • Sorting laundry into kinds and counting.
  • Which fruit is most in the basket?

Quick check

Ask these at the end of the week. Tap to see the answer.

4 cars and 2 dolls. Are cars more or less than dolls?

More.

3 balls and 3 bears. How do they compare?

Equal.

Which column on your sticky-note graph is tallest?

Whatever kind has the most toys.

Ready for the next chapter when your child…

  • Sorts and counts groups correctly.
  • Compares two groups with more than, less than, equal to.
  • Reads which column in a simple picture graph is tallest.

Activities, wording and illustrations are Mathify Kids’ own, following the topics of NCERT’s Joyful Mathematics (Class 1). See the full Class 1 parent guide for every chapter.

Questions parents ask

What is data handling in Class 1?

Sorting objects into groups, counting each group and comparing them using more than, less than and equal to.

How do I help my child compare groups fairly?

Line the groups up one-to-one. Spread-out items can look like more even when there are fewer.

Is a sticky-note graph a real graph?

Yes. It is a picture graph, the first kind of graph children learn, before bar graphs in later classes.