The idea, step by step
Say the whole rule
A useful rule tells us which items to use and their order. 'Circle, square, repeat' is clearer than 'It has shapes'.
If one item appears twice, say it twice. The rule circle, circle, triangle is different from circle, triangle.
Test your explanation
Give your rule to a partner or pretend to follow it yourself. Make the next complete unit using only those words.
If the new unit matches, your explanation works. If it does not, add the missing detail about order or repetition.
A common trap
Saying only which shapes appear without their order.
Instead: Two patterns can use the same shapes in different orders. Name the complete repeating unit.
See the thinking
Explain a shape pattern
Explain this pattern to someone who cannot see it.
- Read one complete unit: square, circle, circle.
- Say that the same group repeats.
- Check the next group matches.
Check an action rule
Ben says 'clap, then stamp, repeat'. He does clap, stamp, clap, clap. Does his action pattern follow the rule?
- Split the actions into pairs.
- The first pair is clap, stamp.
- The second pair is clap, clap, so its last action is wrong.
Check your understanding
Why is 'circle, triangle, repeat' clearer than 'use circles and triangles'?
Show answer
It tells us the order.
It says to put a circle first, a triangle next, and repeat the pair.
Your turn
6 questions · Work at your own pace.
Read the questions online
- Write a rule for square, circle, square, circle.
- Write a rule for triangle, circle, circle, triangle, circle, circle.
- A rule says clap, clap, stamp, repeat. Write the next complete unit.
- Does circle, square, square, circle follow circle, square, repeat? Explain.
- Make a rule using two different shapes. Write two complete repeats.
- Two children say the rules square, circle, repeat and circle, square, repeat. Are their first shapes the same? Explain.
Read the worked solutions
- Write a rule for square, circle, square, circle.
The same ordered pair repeats.
Square, circle, repeat. - Write a rule for triangle, circle, circle, triangle, circle, circle.
Include both circles.
Triangle, circle, circle, repeat. - A rule says clap, clap, stamp, repeat. Write the next complete unit.
Follow the three actions in order.
Clap, clap, stamp. - Does circle, square, square, circle follow circle, square, repeat? Explain.
The third and fourth items do not follow the repeated pair.
No. It should be circle, square, circle, square. - Make a rule using two different shapes. Write two complete repeats.
Accept any clearly stated two-shape unit followed twice.
For example: triangle, square, repeat; triangle, square, triangle, square. - Two children say the rules square, circle, repeat and circle, square, repeat. Are their first shapes the same? Explain.
The order given in a rule matters.
No. One starts with square and the other with circle.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Year 1 repeating patterns, their units and missing elements.
Official curriculum source ↗