A repeating pattern consists of a smallest group of elements—the core—that occurs again in the same order, such as red-blue-blue, red-blue-blue. The learner identifies the core in sequences of objects, shapes, colors, sounds, or simple numbers, and uses it to determine a missing or next element; the pattern is not merely a collection of similar features. General algebraic rules and growing or more complex patterns are not included.
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- Learn “Identify repeating patterns” with a detailed explanation of the concept
- Master “Identify repeating patterns” with unlimited, free practice problems
- Download (or modify) a free worksheet on Identify repeating patterns you can use at home or in class with practice problems that scaffold and explore “Identify repeating patterns” from different perspectives.
- Start working on adaptive units like “Patterning - Number Patterns Intro” or “Patterning - Visual Patterns Intro” that introduce, teach, or practice “Identify repeating patterns” to maximize your learning.
Detailed Explanation: Identify repeating patterns
A repeating pattern uses the same small group of items again and again. This small group is called the core.
Look at this pattern:
🔴 🔵 🔵 🔴 🔵 🔵 🔴 __
Step 1: Look for the group that repeats.
The group is:
🔴 🔵 🔵
It repeats like this:
🔴 🔵 🔵 | 🔴 🔵 🔵 | 🔴 __
Step 2: Continue the group in the same order.
After 🔴, the pattern needs 🔵, then 🔵.
Step 3: Fill in the missing item.
The missing item is 🔵.
So the completed pattern is:
🔴 🔵 🔵 🔴 🔵 🔵 🔴 🔵
The repeating core is 🔴 🔵 🔵.
Learn by doing: Identify repeating patterns
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Practice:
Patterning - Concept Intro (Repeating) - Picture to Missing Term
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Download/Modify Free Grade 1 'Identify repeating patterns' Worksheet
Print this free 'Identify repeating patterns' worksheet to practice this skill away from the computer. Click 'Modify' to easily customize this worksheet to your exact needs.
This Worksheet Includes:
- Patterning - Concept Intro (Repeating) - Picture to Missing Term
- Patterning - Missing from 4 Item Repeating Shape Pattern
- Patterning - Next in 2 Item Repeating Shape Pattern
- Patterning - Next in 3 Item Repeating Number Pattern
- Patterning - Next in 3 Item Repeating Shape Pattern
- Patterning - Missing from 2 Item Repeating Number Pattern
- Patterning - Next in 2 Item Repeating Number Pattern
- Patterning - Concept Intro (Repeating) - Picture to Next Term
Units Teaching This Skill
These adaptive units introduce, teach, or reinforce this skill (Identify repeating patterns) through scaffolded problems that grow in difficulty as concepts are understood.