If you’re looking for a simple, hands-on way to teach kids about sorting, vegetables, and early literacy skills, this Tops and Bottoms sorting activity for kids is the perfect printable craft to add to your lesson plans.
Tops and Bottoms Sorting Activity For Kids
This fun and engaging activity is inspired by the beloved children’s book Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens, a classic story that introduces kids to the idea of working with vegetables grown in different parts of a plant – tops and bottoms.
In this printable craft, children get to bring that concept to life in a creative and interactive way. They will color, cut, and sort vegetables into “tops” and “bottoms” while also assembling adorable characters like the hare and sleepy bear.
It’s part craft, part learning activity, and part literacy connection – all wrapped into one engaging printable that works well at home, in classrooms, or in homeschool settings.
What is the Tops and Bottoms Sorting Activity for Kids?
This tops and bottoms sorting activity for kids is a printable cut-and-paste craft that helps children practice classification skills while exploring plant-based food concepts.
Kids are given a printable rectangle divided into two sections:
- Tops
- Bottoms
They will:
- Color the main characters (a cute hare and a sleepy bear)
- Cut them out and glue them at the top of the sorting rectangle
- Color a variety of vegetables
- Cut out the vegetables
- Sort each vegetable into either “tops” or “bottoms”
- Glue them into the correct category
The result is a bright, visual learning tool that reinforces sorting skills in a fun and memorable way.
Skills Kids Practice with This Activity
This tops and bottoms sorting activity for kids is more than just a craft. It also supports early childhood development in several important areas:
1. Sorting and Classification
Children learn to identify similarities and differences between objects and group them accordingly.
2. Fine Motor Skills
Cutting, coloring, and gluing help strengthen hand muscles and improve coordination.
3. Early Science Concepts
Kids are introduced to plant parts and where food grows (roots vs. leafy tops).
4. Following Directions
The multi-step process helps children practice listening and sequencing skills.
5. Early Literacy Connection
Because the activity is based on a story, it encourages reading comprehension and story-to-life connections.
About the Book Tops & Bottoms
Tops & Bottoms is a clever and engaging story about a hardworking hare and a sleepy bear. In the story, the hare comes up with a plan to help his family earn food by planting crops and sharing the harvest with the bear.
The bear gets to choose whether he wants the “tops” or the “bottoms,” thinking he is always getting the better deal. However, the hare uses his knowledge of plants to plant vegetables in a way that benefits his family each time – showing that some foods grow above the ground and some grow below it.
This is exactly what makes the story such a great fit for a hands-on learning activity. Children can see the difference between plant parts in a real and meaningful way, which naturally leads into this tops and bottoms sorting activity for kids.
By connecting the story to a visual and interactive craft, kids don’t just hear about tops and bottoms – they actually sort them, making the concept easier to understand and remember. It turns storytime into an experience where reading, science, and creativity all come together.
What’s Included in the Free Printable
This tops and bottoms sorting activity for kids printable includes:
- A “tops and bottoms” sorting box
- Cute hare and sleepy bear illustrations
- A set of vegetable cutouts, including:
- Carrots
- Celery
- Broccoli
- Radishes
- Turnips
- Simple, kid-friendly layout for easy use
- Black-and-white design for coloring flexibility
Kids can personalize their craft by choosing their own colors, making each finished project unique.
Materials Needed
You only need a few basic supplies to complete this activity:
- Printable worksheet – you can download the PDF file at the bottom of this blog post
- Printer paper or cardstock – our go-to choice is Neenah White cardstock
- Scissors – as always child-safe recommended
- Glue stick or liquid glue
- Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
Optional:
- Laminator or self-laminating sheets for reuse
- Velcro dots for reusable sorting centers
How to Make the Tops and Bottoms Sorting Activity for Kids
Follow these simple steps to complete the craft:
Step 1: Print the Template
Start by printing the free tops and bottoms sorting activity for kids template. Cardstock works best if you want a sturdier final product, but regular printer paper also works well.
Step 2: Color the Characters and Vegetables
Let kids color the hare, sleepy bear, and vegetables. This is a great opportunity for creativity and color recognition.
Step 3: Cut Out the Pieces
Carefully cut out the rectangle, characters, and vegetable pieces. Younger children may need adult help with this step.
Step 4: Assemble the Characters
Glue the hare and bear at the top of the sorting box.
Step 5: Sort the Vegetables
Now comes the learning part! Kids decide whether each vegetable belongs in the “tops” or “bottoms” section:
- Tops: vegetables that grow above the ground (like broccoli and celery)
- Bottoms: vegetables that grow underground (like carrots and radishes)
Step 6: Glue and Complete
Once sorted, glue each vegetable into the correct category. Encourage kids to explain their choices out loud for extra learning reinforcement.
When to Use This Craft
This tops and bottoms sorting activity for kids is perfect for many different learning moments, including:
🍂 Fall Harvest Lessons
Tie it into a farm, gardening, or harvest theme when talking about where food comes from.
📚 Storytime Extension
Use it after reading Tops & Bottoms to reinforce comprehension and deepen understanding of the story.
🏡 Homeschool Lessons
It works well as a hands-on science or literacy activity.
🏫 Classroom Centers
Perfect for small group work, literacy centers, or science stations.
🎨 Rainy Day Activity
A simple, low-prep craft for quiet afternoons at home.
Why Kids Love This Activity
Kids enjoy this tops and bottoms sorting activity for kids because it feels like a game. They get to:
- Color fun characters
- Cut and build their own craft
- Make decisions about sorting
- See their finished work displayed visually
The combination of creativity and learning keeps children engaged from start to finish.
Educational Extension Ideas
If you want to extend the learning, try adding one of these ideas:
1. Garden Discussion
Talk about what other foods grow above or below the ground.
2. Real Vegetable Sorting
Bring in real vegetables and let kids physically sort them.
3. Story Retelling
Have kids retell the story using their completed craft.
4. Writing Extension
Older children can label each vegetable or write sentences about them.
Classroom or Homeschool Tips
- Print extras for centers or group work
- Pre-cut pieces for younger learners
- Use as an assessment tool for understanding plant parts
- Pair with a science lesson on plant growth
This activity adapts easily across preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary grades.
More Crafts & Activities Based On Books
If your kids enjoyed this tops and bottoms sorting activity for kids, here are more hands-on crafts and activities that connect learning, creativity, and literacy. These are perfect for extending storytime or building themed lesson plans around books and early learning concepts.
🌿 Mosaic Bird Craft
This colorful mosaic craft is a great way for kids to explore patterns, shapes, and fine motor skills while creating a beautiful bird design.
💛 Torn Paper Feelings Monster
A fun and expressive craft that helps kids explore emotions while tearing and gluing paper to create their own unique feelings monster craft.
🖍️ Crayon Box Feelings Name Craft
This creative feelings name craft helps children identify emotions while practicing name recognition and spelling in a hands-on way.
🤖 Robot Name Craft
Kids love building their own robots while learning to spell and recognize their names. A perfect blend of STEM and literacy.
🌸 Mosaic Flower Craft
A simple mosaic flower craft that’s relaxing and lets kids explore color patterns while creating a bright and cheerful flower design.
♻️ Recycling Sorting Activity
This hands-on recycling sorting activity teaches kids about recycling and environmental awareness while practicing classification skills similar to this tops and bottoms sorting activity for kids.
Download Instructions
To get the free printable, simply fill out the form at the bottom of this post. Once you confirm your email, you’ll be redirected to the PDF download page. Already a subscriber? Re-enter your email for instant access.
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Conclusion
This tops and bottoms sorting activity for kids is a simple yet meaningful way to combine literacy, science, and hands-on learning. With this printable craft, children can explore where vegetables grow while practicing important sorting and fine motor skills.
It’s the kind of activity that turns a story into an experience, and helps kids remember what they’ve learned long after the craft is finished.
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