MA 8.03Patterns: Copying, Extending, and Creating
The child copies, continues, and creates repeating patterns (AB, ABB, ABC) with objects, then describes the pattern's rule.
Age 3½–5Work 3 of 6 in Data and Geometry
Presentation
- 1
Lay out red, blue, red, blue, red, blue in a line. Say it aloud: 'red, blue, red, blue…'
- 2
Ask: 'What comes next?' The child adds the next cube.
- 3
The child continues the pattern to the end of the mat.
- 4
Say: 'The pattern is red, blue. It repeats.'
- 5
Show a pattern card; the child copies it with cubes.
- 6
In later lessons introduce ABB and ABC patterns.
- 7
The child creates a pattern and says its rule.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Clap-stomp sound and movement patterns.
- Find patterns in the classroom and outdoors.
- String beads in a pattern for a necklace.
- Translate a pattern into a new form (red-blue becomes clap-stomp).
Control of error
Pattern cards show the correct sequence; the child reads the pattern aloud to find a break.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Extends AB and ABB patterns without help
- Creates a repeating pattern and describes its rule