The idea, step by step
Continue from the stopping place
Find the unit first. Then notice where the pattern stopped. Circle, square, triangle, circle has stopped after the first item of a new unit.
The next item is square, then triangle. Starting a whole unit again too soon would change the rule.
Make your own pattern
Choose a small unit and repeat it without changing the order. You could choose square, circle, circle.
Show at least two complete repeats so another person can see your rule. Read the pattern aloud to check it.
A common trap
Always restarting the unit at the end of the written list.
Instead: Check which part of the unit has already been drawn before you add the next item.
See the thinking
Continue a partly started unit
Repeat the unit circle, square, triangle. The pattern starts circle, square, triangle, circle. Add two shapes.
- The first three shapes finish one unit.
- The next circle starts another unit.
- Finish it with square, triangle.
Build three units
Make three repeats of square, circle.
- Write the unit square, circle.
- Repeat that same pair twice more.
- There are six shapes altogether.
Check your understanding
Repeat clap, stamp. What comes after clap, stamp, clap?
Show answer
Stamp.
The second unit has its clap and needs its stamp.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
Read the questions online
- Repeat circle, square. Add the next two shapes: circle, square, circle, square.
- Repeat triangle, circle, circle. Add two shapes after triangle, circle, circle, triangle.
- Draw two repeats of square, triangle.
- Make three repeats of clap, clap, stamp. How many actions are there?
- Choose your own two-shape unit and draw three repeats.
- Tia repeats square, circle. She writes square, circle, square, square. Change one shape to fix it.
Read the worked solutions
- Repeat circle, square. Add the next two shapes: circle, square, circle, square.
Start the next complete pair.
Circle, square. - Repeat triangle, circle, circle. Add two shapes after triangle, circle, circle, triangle.
Finish the second three-item unit.
Circle, circle. - Draw two repeats of square, triangle.
Use the same order both times.
Square, triangle, square, triangle. - Make three repeats of clap, clap, stamp. How many actions are there?
There are three actions in each of three complete units.
9 actions. - Choose your own two-shape unit and draw three repeats.
Accept any two-shape unit repeated three times in the same order.
For example, circle, triangle, circle, triangle, circle, triangle. - Tia repeats square, circle. She writes square, circle, square, square. Change one shape to fix it.
The fourth item must finish the second square, circle pair.
Change the last square to circle.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Year 1 repeating patterns, their units and missing elements.
Official curriculum source ↗