A repeating pattern uses the same group of shapes again and again. First find the part that repeats: say the pattern aloud and listen for where it starts again. Then keep the repeat going. If a shape is missing, read from the start and see what the repeat needs in the gap. To find a shape far along, count in whole repeats first, then count on.
Explore this idea with maths tools
Maths you can move
Build 8 + 5
Tap two gold counters to fill the ten-frame.
8 in the frame + 5 waiting. The total stays the same.
Words to know
- pattern
- shapes or numbers that follow a rule
- repeat
- the group of shapes that happens again and again
Worked examples
red circle, blue square, red circle, blue square, red circle, ? What comes next?
- 1.The part that repeats is: red circle, blue square.
- 2.The last shape is a red circle, the first shape of the repeat.
= blue square
red circle, red circle, blue square, red circle, ?, blue square. What shape is missing?
- 1.The part that repeats is: red circle, red circle, blue square.
- 2.The shape before the gap starts a new repeat, so the gap is the second shape of the repeat.
= red circle
The pattern red circle, blue square, yellow triangle keeps going. What is the 14th shape?
- 1.A repeat has 3 shapes, so repeats end at shapes 3, 6, 9 and 12.
- 2.Shape 14 is 2 on from shape 12, so it is shape 2 of the repeat.
= blue square
For parents
Method: Find the part that repeats
What to say: Which part repeats? Where does each repeat end?
Common mistakes:
- Copies the shape next to the gap instead of finding the part that repeats.
- Assumes the pattern starts again from its first shape, wherever the row stopped.
- Fills a gap with a copy of the shape after it.
- When counting on to a far position, counts the last shape drawn as the first step and lands one shape short.