Describing Rules & Patterns
When you notice a pattern repeating, describe it as a rule that works every time — then test whether the rule holds in new cases
What a learner can do afterwards
- Describe a pattern or rule they've noticed in their own words — e.g. 'Every time you add 0 to a number, it stays the same'
- Test whether a rule they've described holds for new examples they haven't seen before
- Explain the difference between noticing a pattern and proving it always works
1 · Read
You already know how to spot a pattern. The next step is to put that pattern into words as a rule. A rule is a sentence that tells what happens every single time, not just once.
Mia looks at 5, 10, 15, 20 and says her rule out loud: every number is 5 more than the last one. To check it, she tries a new number the pattern has not used yet. She adds 5 to 20 and gets 25. The pattern keeps going, so her rule holds.
Noticing a pattern once is a good start, but it does not prove your rule works. Test your rule on new examples you have not seen before. If it holds every time, you can trust it.
Turn a pattern into a rule, then test the rule on new examples before you trust it.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Where this leads
14 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.