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Almost any list that comes out of a computer is sorted into some sort of order, and there are many more sorted lists inside computers that the user doesn't see. Many clever algorithms have been devised for putting values into order efficiently.
In this activity students compare different algorithms to sort weights in order.
Photos from Live Shows
 Typical equipment for the Sorting Algorithms activity
Other Resources
Curriculum Links
This activity introduces commonly-used sorting algorithms, and encourages students to compare their performance and evaluate which should be used in different contexts.
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Mathematics Level 1: Measurement
- Order and compare objects or events by length, area, volume and capacity, weight (mass), turn (angle), temperature, and time by direct comparison and/or counting whole numbers of units.
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Technology Level 1: Planning for practice
- Outline a general plan to support the development of an outcome, identifying appropriate steps and resources.
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Technology Level 1: Brief development
- Describe the outcome they are developing and identify the attributes it should have, taking account of the need or opportunity and the resources available.
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Technology Level 1: Outcome development and evaluation
- Investigate a context to communicate potential outcomes. Evaluate these against attributes; select and develop an outcome in keeping with the identified attributes.
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- Level I (Grades K-12) Topic 12: Understand how to arrange (sort) information into useful order, such as a telephone directory, without using a computer.
- Level I (Grades 3-5) Topic 11: Develop a simple understanding of an algorithm, such as text compression, search,
or network routing, using computer-free exercises.
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