During which developmental stage can a child organize a pile of rocks from largest to smallest?

The concrete operational stage, as identified by Piaget, is characterized by the development of logical thought and the ability to perform operations on concrete objects. In this stage, which typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11, children gain a better understanding of the concept of conservation, can classify objects, and can arrange them in a logical sequence based on quantitative properties such as size.

Organizing a pile of rocks from largest to smallest requires the child to use logical thinking and categorize items according to specific criteria—essential skills in the concrete operational stage. Children in this stage can understand the relationships between different objects and manipulate them mentally in ways that were not possible in earlier stages.

In contrast, children in the preoperational stage, which occurs from approximately ages 2 to 7, exhibit limited logical thought and often focus on their immediate perceptions rather than systematic organization. The formal operational stage, beginning at around age 11 and continuing into adulthood, involves more abstract thinking and hypothetical reasoning, which goes beyond simply organizing physical objects.

Lastly, the sensorimotor stage, occurring from birth until about age 2, is characterized primarily by sensory exploration and motor activities, with no capacity for the kind of cognitive operations needed to organize objects based on size.