Lesson 1. Extend a Pattern — Mathematics Grade 1 (California)

Main Idea: I will extend a pattern.

New words

• pattern — something that repeats in the same order, again and again
• pattern unit — the part that repeats

What is a pattern?

Look at this row of shapes. A circle, then a square. A circle, then a square. It keeps going the same way every time — so it is a pattern.

Finding the pattern unit

The pattern unit is the smallest part that repeats. In the row above, the pattern unit is circle, square — just two shapes. Say it out loud as you point: "circle, square … circle, square … circle, square." When you hear yourself start again, that is where the unit ends.

Patterns can be made of colours too

Orange, blue, orange, blue is a colour pattern. The shapes are all the same here — it is the colour that repeats. The pattern unit is orange, blue.

Extending a pattern

To extend a pattern means to keep it going. Once you know the pattern unit, you just say it again.

1. Find the part that repeats — that is the pattern unit.
2. Look at the last shape in the row.
3. Say the pattern unit from there, and keep going.

Here is a triangle, star, triangle, star row. The unit is triangle, star. The row stops on a triangle — so the next one must be a star.

Make it right

Sometimes a pattern has a mistake in it. Dave tried to make a red, blue pattern but put two blues together at the end: red, blue, red, blue, blue. That last blue breaks the pattern — after a blue, a red should come next. Changing it back to red makes the pattern right again.

Remember

• A pattern unit repeats over and over to make a pattern
• Find the unit first, then you can always tell what comes next
• Patterns can repeat shapes, colours, sounds or movements

Try this at home

Make a pattern with sound: clap, stomp, clap, stomp. Ask someone in your family to listen and tell you which part you keep repeating.