Patterns are a fun way to view the world. We look for patterns all the time. From the simple black and white stripes of a zebra, the red and white stripes on the U.S. flag, and the changing seasons, we see patterns everywhere we look.
There are patterns in our clothes, patterns in math, and patterns in the week as students travel to art on Monday, music on Tuesday, and gymnastics on Thursday.
Patterns help kids find order and think strategically. Patterns provide a reason for what will happen next.
Students who struggle with staying on task may benefit from a card with a pattern of tasks on it that the student is expected to complete every day. A scientist may look for patterns in her research. A student may notice a pattern in their parent’s behavior. “If I do call my sister a name, then my mom will put me in time out,” but “if I put my clothes away, my mom will give me a hug and tell me she is proud of me.”
Prerequisite skills before patterns include sorting and classifying. Students begin sorting as early as Kindergarten! They begin by sorting and recognizing differences in the attributes of objects.
These basic skills will provide a solid foundation for students as they continue learning more complex number concepts.
In 4th grade, students start to deep dive into understand even more about patterns. They learn to recognize more complex patterns, try to identify the rule that pattern suggests, and they explain how the rule could be used to add to the pattern or solve another problem. Patterns help kids see relationships which can increase generalization of skills for students.
If you are looking for some more fun ways to work patterns into your classroom, here are some great resources for differentiating pattern practice for students.
Number Patterns Sequencing Strips
Animal Pattern Sequencing Strips
Number Pattern Sequence Strips for 0-103
Shapes Pattern Sequencing Strips
Colors Pattern Sequencing Strips
And for a special little treat, here is a fun Christmas story to use when teaching about patterns in your class. Feel free to change up the toy the elf is working on to provide more difficulty or variety.
Once, a few years back, one of Santa’s elves was busy making beautiful dolls for children all around the world. This elf’s name was Barney. Barney would carefully dress each doll in different outfits.
After many days of working on the dolls, Barney the Elf noticed a pattern. The first doll he dressed would get a blue dress, the second doll would get a red cape, and the third doll would get a purple hat. Blue dress, red cape, purple hat. Blue dress, red cape, purple hat. Barney was so excited about finding the pattern that he took a break from his work to go tell his other elf friends.
“Guess what!” he said. I have found a pattern. The first doll I dress gets a blue dress, the second doll gets a red cape, and the third doll gets a purple hat. “Isn’t that a great pattern?” he asked his friends; who all agreed that the pattern was super neat.
Suddenly the elves heard something. It sounded like a bang and a crash and a big thud.
“What was that?” Barney asked his friends as they all hurried over to where the sounds were coming from. What he saw next made his eyes really big. All of the dolls were lying in a big pile on the ground. When Barney went to tell his friends about the pattern he created, he forgot to turn on the machine, and some of the dolls fell off the table.
“Oh no!” cried Barney. “Now what will we do? The dolls are all mixed up, and if I don’t sort them out, Christmas will be ruined for all the children.”
From behind him, Barney heard a low jolly chuckle, and he turned around to see Santa!
“Don’t worry, Barney,” Santa said while tapping Barney’s head. “You have everything you need to fix the problem right in here. Tell me how many dolls there are.”
“There are nine dolls, Santa,” said Barney slowly. “There are three with purple hats, three with blue dresses, and three with red capes. How do I put them back in order?”
What could Barney do to fix this problem?
How could using Barney’s pattern help?
Put the dolls back in order, so that Christmas can be saved!
Were your students able to help Barney? How did Barney’s story work in your class? What other toys did you have Barney work on? What other patterns did you find. Tell us about your experience in the comments below!