Merry Math Patterns
Fingerplays and active songs such as Patty Cake and Open Them, Shut Them introduce children to simple song patterns. Continue to build their pattern awareness with related art activities.
1. Read and enjoy the bright illustrations in books such as Pattern Fish by Trudy Harris. Look through the book several times to find patterns on the fish, in the water, and around the borders of the pages. Here are some patterns to try.
2. Body patterns. Sit with classmates in a circle on the floor. Think of patterns to make with your bodies. Try arranging yourselves around the circle in patterns such as sit, sitting, standing or kneeling, standing, standing.
3. Sound patterns. Think of sounds you can make such as tongue clicks, handclaps, finger snaps, or feet stamps. List the sounds on a white board with Crayola Dry-Erase Markers. Put them together to make body sound patterns, such as click, stamp, stamp, clap.
4. Color patterns. Make a pattern using two colors on a dry erase board. Erase. Make a pattern with three colors. Try one with four colors.
5. Shape patterns. How can you make squares, triangles, diamonds, or ovals into patterns? What about stars, hearts, and circles? Start with two shapes. Erase. Try three shapes. See how many shapes you can use in one pattern!
6. Alphabet patterns. Use any two letters, maybe your initials, to write a pattern on your dry-erase board. Try another pattern with one or two more letters. Choose your favorite letter pattern. Erase all the others. Write the letter pattern at the top of your dry-erase board. In the middle, make the same pattern using colors. Now use shapes to make the same pattern at the bottom of the board.
7. When you see a pattern from now on, surprise your friends and family when they hear you say, "Look at the ABCCD pattern on that wallpaper!"
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
- Record patterns, rhythms, and cycles in daily life (breakfast, lunch, dinner). Compare routine patterns on weekdays and weekends. Find patterns on clothing, walls, and floors. Discuss the cycles of the seasons, day and night, and moon phases. Look at animal photographs to find patterns on the wings, coats, or skins. Find more patterns at home.
- Older students could look for patterns a hundreds chart. Color all the numbers containing 5 or 0 to create a pattern. Try coloring every third number.
- Schedule a fun Pattern Day. Some activities might include: stand in patterns (sneakers, sneakers, shoes); string beads or create paper chains; stamp patterns on paper; create, then eat healthy food patterns; move to dance patterns created by classmates.
- Assessment: As children gain expertise, move from simple AB or ABC patterns to more complicated ones such as ABCCD. Ask each child to represent various patterns with letters, colors, and/or shapes.
Start With a Colorful Inspiration
Sparkling Seasonal Symbols
Prancing Prints
