Introduction to Patterning

Curriculum Goal

Recognize, explore, describe, and compare patterns, and extend, translate, and create them, using the core of a pattern and predicting what comes next (#18).

Display a simple pattern on the whiteboard (e.g., AB pattern).
Ask students if they can identify or extend the pattern.
After each extension or suggestion of the pattern, ask students to justify their thinking.
Ask, How do you know that the pattern is correct?
Proceed by writing a different or more complicated pattern (e.g., ABC pattern) on the board and repeat the steps above.
Once students comprehend how to build onto existing patterns, challenge them by displaying a pattern with missing pieces.
Pose the question, What piece or parts of the pattern belong in the blank section(s)
Encourage students to justify their responses and to explain their reasoning.
Wrap up the activity by defining the components and rules of a pattern (e.g., the pattern core, a pattern consists of at least three repetitions or cycles).

How easily can children identify, expand, and justify patterns accurately?
What skills do students use when extending patterns or filling in missing pieces to the pattern?

This activity can be done using more complex patterns with different objects, materials, or symbols.

Identify a pattern’s building block and extend it using repetition.

Using students names, practice recognizing patterns.