List

Perusing Patterns

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What does the word 'pattern' mean to you? Before reading any more, pause to think.

Perhaps you imagine geometrical shapes arranged in particular ways. Maybe pattern for you is about repetition. Perhaps you think of a sequence of numbers, going up in equal steps. Or...

The tasks in this feature will give you the chance to identify different kinds of pattern, copy patterns, extend patterns and create your own, all of which will help you think mathematically. 

Pattern Making
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Pattern Making

Age
3 to 5
In this activity, there are lots of different patterns for children to make, describe and extend.
Domino Sequences
problem
Favourite

Domino Sequences

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Find the next two dominoes in these sequences.
Chairs and Tables
problem
Favourite

Chairs and Tables

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Make a chair and table out of interlocking cubes, making sure that the chair fits under the table!

Repeating Patterns
problem
Favourite

Repeating Patterns

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Try continuing these patterns made from triangles. Can you create your own repeating pattern?
Digit Addition
problem
Favourite

Digit Addition

Age
5 to 11
Challenge level
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Try out this number trick. What happens with different starting numbers? What do you notice?

Chain of Changes
problem
Favourite

Chain of Changes

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Arrange the shapes in a line so that you change either colour or shape in the next piece along. Can you find several ways to start with a blue triangle and end with a red circle?

Missing Middles
problem
Favourite

Missing Middles

Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
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Can you work out the domino pieces which would go in the middle in each case to complete the pattern of these eight sets of three dominoes?
Up and Down Staircases
problem
Favourite

Up and Down Staircases

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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One block is needed to make an up-and-down staircase, with one step up and one step down. How many blocks would be needed to build an up-and-down staircase with 5 steps up and 5 steps down?
Tables Without Tens
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Tables Without Tens

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Investigate and explain the patterns that you see from recording just the units digits of numbers in the times tables.
Play to 37
problem
Favourite

Play to 37

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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In this game for two players, the idea is to take it in turns to choose 1, 3, 5 or 7. The winner is the first to make the total 37.
Sticky Triangles
problem
Favourite

Sticky Triangles

Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
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Can you continue this pattern of triangles and begin to predict how many sticks are used for each new "layer"?