Spotting Patterns
Spot patterns and recurring structures in numbers, words, nature, sounds, or events, and use them to make sense of new information
What a learner can do afterwards
- Identify or check a rule in a number, color, or word pattern when prompted
- Use a pattern they noticed to make a prediction, for example: 'The next one should be 16 because it's doubling each time'
- Explain the pattern they found and why they think it works
1 · Read
Small questions can help you study patterns too: 'What repeats?' 'What changes?' A pattern follows a rule. A part may repeat, or numbers may change by the same rule. In 2, 4, 6, 8, add 2. Check every step: 2 + 2 = 4, 4 + 2 = 6, and 6 + 2 = 8. The rule must fit every step shown.
Mia lines up shells: red, blue, red, blue, red. The repeating part is red, blue. Keeping that rule, blue comes next. A repeating part can have more than two pieces. Find the whole part before filling a gap.
A different rule is double each time. Double means add a number to itself. In 3, 6, 12, check 3 + 3 = 6 and 6 + 6 = 12. Keeping this rule gives 12 + 12 = 24 next. The jumps get bigger, but the doubling rule stays the same.
Words can share a pattern. Sun, fun, and run all end with the letters un. A word fits this ending pattern if it also ends in un. Look at the ending of each word, even when their first letters differ.
A story can give a rule. A child plans to make 2 more boats each day: 1, 3, 5. Keeping that plan gives 5 + 2 = 7 boats the next day. Use the last day's number, not the total for all days. Patterns in observations can help you predict too, but check what happens.
Find a rule and check it against what is shown. Use it to predict what comes next, then check new observations.
This lesson, its practice questions and flashcards were written for this dataset.
The five readings and flashcards were written for this dataset. The linked video, How do crystals work? - Graham Baird, is from TED-Ed.
More to read
Check the last step too
A list reads 4, 8, 12, 17. Try adding 4. That gives 8 after 4 and 12 after 8. But adding 4 to 12 gives 16, not 17.
The rule fits the beginning but misses the last step. Check every step shown before using a rule. You could look for a different rule or ask how the list was made.
Find the whole repeating part
A bead string goes black, white, white, black, white, white. Say the colors in groups: black, white, white. Then say that group again.
The two white beads both belong to the repeating part. Leaving one out would change the pattern. Keeping the same rule, the next three beads would be black, white, white.
Check a prediction
Suppose a class counts book borrowers on three Fridays: 6, 8, 10. Adding 2 fits those counts, so the class predicts 12 borrowers next Friday.
That prediction is not a promise. Different children may choose books next week. Record the new count and compare it with 12. A pattern can help you make a prediction even when the next observation may differ.
Look at more examples
Imagine drawing the leaves on three twigs. You notice that their arrangements look alike.
You can investigate by drawing more twigs and comparing the arrangements. Keep drawings that differ too. They may show a limit to the pattern you noticed.
Your first observations give you something to check. They do not tell you that every twig must match.
Two rules can fit a short list
Look at 2, 4. Adding 2 fits this step. Doubling fits too: 2 + 2 = 4.
The rules would give different next numbers. Adding 2 to 4 gives 6. Doubling 4 gives 8.
With only those two numbers, you cannot tell which rule the maker chose. Ask for the rule or look for more information.
Explore more
2 · Watch
En anglaisTake it off screen
Where it sits
Learn first
Nothing; this is a starting point.
Optional connections
Where this leads
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.