Patterns
Shape and Colour Patterns
A pattern is something that repeats in a fixed order. To continue a pattern, find the part that repeats (the unit) and say it again. In ●▲●▲●▲, the unit is ●▲, so the next is ●.
Example 1: Continue: red, blue, red, blue, ___
The unit is red-blue, so next is red.
Example 2: Continue: ■ ■ ▲ ■ ■ ▲ ___
The unit is ■ ■ ▲, so next is ■.
Quick recap
- A pattern repeats in a fixed order.
- Find the repeating unit, then continue it.
✓ Quick check
Continue: ▲ ● ▲ ● ▲ ___ ?
The unit is ▲ ●, so after ▲ comes ●.
Continue the colours: green, green, yellow, green, green, yellow, ___ ?
The unit is green-green-yellow, so the next is green.
Number Patterns
Numbers can make patterns too. Skip counting makes patterns: by 2s (2, 4, 6, 8…), by 5s (5, 10, 15, 20…) and by 10s (10, 20, 30…). Find the rule (how much we add each time), then continue.
Example 1: Continue: 2, 4, 6, 8, ___
Add 2 each time, so next is 10.
Example 2: Continue: 5, 10, 15, ___
Add 5 each time, so next is 20.
Quick recap
- Skip counting makes number patterns.
- Find the rule (the number you add), then continue.
✓ Quick check
Continue: 10, 20, 30, ___ ?
Add 10 each time, so next is 40.
What is the rule for 3, 6, 9, 12?
Each number is 3 more than the one before.
Growing Patterns
Some patterns grow step by step. The pattern 1, 2, 3, 4 grows by 1. A pattern of dots can grow: 1 dot, then 2 dots, then 3 dots. Look at how much it grows each time to find the next step.
Example 1: Continue: 1, 2, 3, 4, ___
It grows by 1, so next is 5.
Example 2: Continue: 2, 4, 6, ___ (growing by 2)
Next is 8.
Quick recap
- Growing patterns get bigger by the same amount each step.
- Find the growth, then add it again.
✓ Quick check
Continue the growing pattern: 1, 3, 5, 7, ___ ?
It grows by 2 each time, so 7 + 2 = 9.
Continue: 20, 18, 16, ___ ? (going down by 2)
It goes down by 2: 16 − 2 = 14.
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