I'm a history & literature student who's supporting studies by working part-time at a bank. You might like this Patterns pack, available in my shop.So just briefly about me and why I've joined this forum, and then I'll ask my question. The kids enjoy doing this at small group and the math center.ĭon’t miss the math resource page! More Resources Children clip the stencils onto a strip of paper with clothespins and color a pattern with the stencil. I also made some of my own stencils with strips of construction paper by punching out shapes with the paper craft punchers (like the black one in the photo). For example, a row of hearts or a row of stars. I bought plastic stencils at craft stores that have the same picture in a row (like the pink one in the photo). StampsĬhildren use rubber stamps to print patterns on a strip of paper. Bingo Dot MarkersĬhildren can use bingo dot markers to print color patterns on a strip of paper. Pattern Block SnakesĬhildren make a patterned snake using the pattern blocks. I clip the end with a clothespin while the children are stringing the pieces so the pieces won’t fall off.

We also use colored pasta or colored straws (cut into 1-inch pieces) to string onto yarn. Occasionally, I allow the children to keep these for bracelets, but sometimes I have them take the beads off when they are finished and sort them back into the containers by color. I use a wire tool to curl the sharp ends of the pipe cleaner under so that they won’t scratch the children, but will still be small enough to string the beads on. BeadsĬhildren string colored pony beads onto a pipe cleaner to make a color pattern. I have gridded pattern cards (see photos) that the children can place the manipulatives on to help with spacing and keeping the objects in a row. For size patterns, we use bear family counters, plastic jewels (from craft store), pompoms (from craft store). For shape patterns, we use pattern blocks and shaped buttons. For color patterns, we use Unifix cubes, dinosaur counters, bear counters, and other animal counters. We use lots of different manipulatives to make patterns. The Unifix pattern cards can be printed at the Math Their Way website. Children duplicate the patterns on the pattern cards, or make their own patterns. In the math center, I place a tray of Unifix cubes (each color sorted into a different cup), with pattern cards. We do the same when we start AABB patterns. The children take turns adding a color to make a pattern train with the cubes. To make an AB pattern, two children work together, and each choose a color of Unifix cubes they want to use. Small Group or Center Activities TrainsĪt small group, we begin each new pattern by working with a partner to make a train. Pattern SongsĪvailable on Jack Hartmann’s “Math All Around Me” CD. Half of the class might have bells and half of the class might have shakers (or some other instrument), and the children play: bells, shakers, bells, shakers… For ABC patterns, the class is divided into three groups with each group playing an instrument in turn. For example, AB patterns would be “clap, stomp, clap, stomp…” or “clap, pat, clap, pat…” ABC patterns would be “clap, pat, jump, clap, pat, jump…” Sound PatternsĬhildren make sound patterns with musical instruments. Movement PatternsĬhildren do clap, snap, pat, stomp, jump rhythms.

I also sometimes have them hold something, such as colored construction paper for a color pattern, or pictures of animals. Children line up boy/girl, or sit/stand, or happy/sad faces. At large group, we begin each new pattern by making people patterns.

Pony bead dinosaur patterns