Exploring and Creating Patterns {FREE Printable Included}

MBug (4 years old) has really enjoyed making patterns with our Reading the Alphabet curriculum and also with our Cut it Out! Packs. So, to follow up with an activity she and my mom did not too long ago, I created some open-ended templates for exploring and creating patterns.

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You know those sheets of stickers you have lying around? You know the ones I’m talking about. The sheets of tiny stickers that you bought to use in your incentive chart, but still have yet to unwrap because you never made the chart. Okay, maybe (just maybe) I’m talking about me. Well, it’s time to unwrap those babies and use them with these making patterns templates!

Modeling Patterns

We have had fun exploring patterns with these templates, using all kinds of manipulatives (see the end of the post for ideas to use with the printables.) As with anything, the first thing we want to do is model a skill before we ask our child to give it a go. Although my mom had already explored with her a bit, I wanted to be sure she understood the concept.

I got out some of our dot stickers and showed MBug how to match the stickers up, with A always being pink and B always being orange (for our example). She was eager to help me and wanted to take over. I knew my job was done. 🙂

 

Exploring Patterns

She wanted her own paper with her own stickers and away she went, peeling the stickers and exploring patterns.

 

She enjoyed using the stickers and wanted to do more, so we mixed it up a bit, using counting bears, stamps, and do-a-dot paint to explore A-B patterns as well as patterns with A, B, C, and D.

 

Creating Patterns

NJoy (Kindergarten) saw her and wanted to do it, too. I knew it would be too easy, so I quickly created a blank template for him to provide an extra challenge.

He not only had to create his own patterns, but then go back and label his patterns with the letters himself. And once he had reached the end of each line, I asked questions like, “If this pattern continued, what would be in the 15th spot?”

 

More Ideas for Making Patterns:

• • Reading the Alphabet– pattern cards for every letter of the alphabet
  • Seasonal Pattern Cards in every Pre-K/K Pack
  • Cut it Out! Packs include pattern making activities

 

 

 

Download this FREE Making Patterns Pack HERE.

 

 

 

~Becky