In this resource we showcase examples of encounters that will help children develop an understanding of patterns and relationships which will be a foundation for exploring algebra in the higher grades. While exploring patterns and relationships children get an opportunity to become good problem solvers as they acquire essential skills and strategies which include:

• Oral rehearsal and paraphrasing of the pattern they can see to refine their thoughts.
• Having a system for organizing and recording the pattern, e.g., using buttons, stones, pictures or lists of numbers.
• Using the collected information to predict what comes next in the pattern
• Using mathematical notations and symbols to depict the patterns.

Skills You Gain From Patterning Activities

Skill 1 : exploring Patterns in the early year