Understand the idea.
Use the place in the unit
A missing item still has a place in the repeating unit. Keep pointing through the rule as you read, even at a blank. In a circle, square pattern, every circle must be followed by a square before the next unit starts.
Check the whole pattern
Some units contain the same item more than once. In triangle, circle, circle, both circles belong to the unit. Fill the gap, then read the complete pattern aloud and group it into units to check every place.
See the method in action.
A missing second item
Repeat circle, square: circle, __, circle, square. What fills the gap?
Worked solution
- 1
Split the pattern into two units.
Circle, blank forms the first pair; circle, square forms the second.
- 2
Match the blank to the rule.
The second item of circle, square is square.
- 3
Read the completed pattern.
Circle, square, circle, square gives two matching units, so square fills the gap.
Square.
A missing first item
Repeat triangle, circle, circle: triangle, circle, circle, __, circle, circle.
Worked solution
- 1
Mark the first complete unit.
Triangle, circle, circle uses the first three places.
- 2
Find the place of the blank.
The blank starts the second unit, before its two circles.
- 3
Fill it and check the groups.
Triangle completes triangle, circle, circle twice, so the missing shape is triangle.
Triangle.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
Repeat clap, clap, stamp: clap, __, stamp. What is missing?
Show answer & reasoning
Clap.
The missing action is clap. The unit is clap, clap, stamp, so its second place needs another clap before the stamp.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- Repeat square, circle: square, __, square, circle.
- Repeat circle, circle, triangle: circle, __, triangle, circle, circle, triangle.
- Repeat clap, stamp: __, stamp, clap, stamp.
- Repeat triangle, square, circle: triangle, square, __, triangle, square, circle.
- Repeat square, circle: square, circle, __, __, square, circle. Fill both gaps.
- Repeat triangle, circle, circle: triangle, circle, circle, triangle, square, circle. Which item must change?
Read the worked solutions
- Repeat square, circle: square, __, square, circle.
The gap is second in the unit.
Circle. - Repeat circle, circle, triangle: circle, __, triangle, circle, circle, triangle.
Each triangle follows two circles.
Circle. - Repeat clap, stamp: __, stamp, clap, stamp.
Each pair starts with clap.
Clap. - Repeat triangle, square, circle: triangle, square, __, triangle, square, circle.
Circle is third in the unit.
Circle. - Repeat square, circle: square, circle, __, __, square, circle. Fill both gaps.
The two gaps form one complete unit.
Square, circle. - Repeat triangle, circle, circle: triangle, circle, circle, triangle, square, circle. Which item must change?
The second unit must also be triangle, circle, circle.
The square must change to a circle.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Year 1 repeating patterns, their units and missing elements.
Official curriculum source ↗