An ice cube tray is great for introducing patterns.
We used plastic bears for our pattern “game”, but you can use anything you have on hand – blocks, crackers (cheese it, ritz, cheese it, ritz), beads, etc.
I put bears in an AB pattern in the top row (red, yellow, red, yellow). AB patterns are the easiest to start out with. I pointed to each bear and said the color. I asked N to copy my pattern with her set of bears in the row below mine. As she put each bear in she said the color.
Next, I gave her 8 bears of different colors. I said, “Now you make a pattern for me to copy.”
She made her AB pattern (blue, green, blue, green) and then I copied hers in the row below.
She thought it was so cool that I was copying her pattern.
After we did this “game” several times I suggested we sort the bears by color into the cups before we put them away.
Instead, she wanted to make a bear family. She lined them all up, named them, and played with them for the rest of the morning. It was a great reminder that each child learns differently and she learns best through play!
Learning Patterns – Early Math | Forcing the Bloom
Wednesday 3rd of September 2014
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Adrienne
Wednesday 3rd of September 2014
Great ideas! We are working patterns this week and I found your post. I linked to it as a great resource! We LOVE counting bears. :)
Shonda
Thursday 21st of February 2013
I love this idea! Trying it today!