Understand the idea.
Say the whole rule
A clear pattern rule names a whole unit in order and says to repeat it. “Circle, square, repeat” tells someone what to do next. If an item occurs twice in the unit, say it twice so that neither copy is missed.
Test your explanation
Test your explanation by following your own words to make another complete unit. Compare it with the picture or actions. If the order or number of items changes, improve the rule before continuing. Naming only the shapes is not enough.
See the method in action.
Explain a shape pattern
Explain this pattern to someone who cannot see it.
Worked solution
- 1
Read one complete group from the picture.
The first group is square, circle, circle.
- 2
Check the next group.
It is also square, circle, circle, so the same group repeats.
- 3
Say a rule someone can follow.
“Draw a square, then two circles. Repeat that group” gives both the order and the repeated circle.
Draw a square, then two circles. Repeat that group.
Check an action rule
Ben says 'clap, then stamp, repeat'. He does clap, stamp, clap, clap. Does his action pattern follow the rule?
Worked solution
- 1
Use Ben’s rule to make the expected pairs.
Clap, stamp, repeat means clap, stamp, clap, stamp.
- 2
Compare the first pair.
Ben does clap, stamp first, so that pair follows the rule.
- 3
Compare the second pair.
Ben does clap, clap instead of clap, stamp. The last action must be stamp, so his pattern does not follow the rule.
No. The last action should be stamp.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
Why is 'circle, triangle, repeat' clearer than 'use circles and triangles'?
Show answer & reasoning
It tells us the order.
“Circle, triangle, repeat” says which shape goes first and which follows it. It tells someone to repeat that ordered pair; simply naming the shapes leaves their order unclear.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- Write a rule for square, circle, square, circle.
- Write a rule for triangle, circle, circle, triangle, circle, circle.
- A rule says clap, clap, stamp, repeat. Write the next complete unit.
- Does circle, square, square, circle follow circle, square, repeat? Explain.
- Make a rule using two different shapes. Write two complete repeats.
- Two children say the rules square, circle, repeat and circle, square, repeat. Are their first shapes the same? Explain.
Read the worked solutions
- Write a rule for square, circle, square, circle.
The same ordered pair repeats.
Square, circle, repeat. - Write a rule for triangle, circle, circle, triangle, circle, circle.
Include both circles.
Triangle, circle, circle, repeat. - A rule says clap, clap, stamp, repeat. Write the next complete unit.
Follow the three actions in order.
Clap, clap, stamp. - Does circle, square, square, circle follow circle, square, repeat? Explain.
The third and fourth items do not follow the repeated pair.
No. It should be circle, square, circle, square. - Make a rule using two different shapes. Write two complete repeats.
Accept any clearly stated two-shape unit followed twice.
For example: triangle, square, repeat; triangle, square, triangle, square. - Two children say the rules square, circle, repeat and circle, square, repeat. Are their first shapes the same? Explain.
The order given in a rule matters.
No. One starts with square and the other with circle.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Year 1 repeating patterns, their units and missing elements.
Official curriculum source ↗