Venn diagrams can be complex or they can be simple. In kindergarten, Venn diagrams can be used to teach about comparisons. A Venn diagram resembles two or more interlinked hoops. Each hoop is a separate category, and since these hoops are linked, the area where they overlap represents more than one category. For example, one hoop is for even numbers and the other is for odd numbers. Each number would fall into one category only, therefore the area where the Venn diagrams link, would be left empty.
Children can sit in a circle and all participate in sorting numbers, words or objects into categories. For example, each child can take off one shoe. The Venn diagram can be made of three hoops -- one representing white shoes, one representing black shoes and one representing colorful shoes. Each hoop overlaps with the other, and each shoe can be placed into the category it falls into. A white and red shoe would fall into the area where the white shoe hoop and the colorful shoe hoop overlap, or a black shoe would fall into the black shoe hoop. Such activities teach children about categories, similarities and differences.
Venn diagrams can serve as a fun, relaxed activity but have educational purposes as well. They prompt kindergarten children think about characteristics of the objects being categorized. If using numbers, Venn diagrams prove to be useful in the area of mathematics. If using characteristics of book or story characters, Venn diagrams help in English lessons. Venn diagrams can be used in a variety of subjects: math, art, social studies, science and literature, and for a variety of purposes. Children learn to compare and contrast, and to sort or separate words, numbers, objects and characteristics.
One of the main purposes of Venn diagrams in the kindergarten classroom is to organize and sort information into categories. They are simple enough to use in kindergarten, and serve as beneficial visuals. They help organize information, and teach children early on about organization, comparisons and categorizing.