Using Patterns for Learning

Patterns are all around us.

So much of our maths work involves the use of patterns in one way or another, particularly when learning Number Facts.

Often we see children losing interest in maths whenever numbers are introduced, so how can we create 'hooks' for them to become more involved in maths? How can we get them invested in maths without them really seeing it as maths in the first place?

When we look at patterns, what we see can be different for different people. By this I mean that when asked to explain a pattern, two people could see totally different things, which is fantastic!

Often we do not notice some patterns until they are pointed out to us.

Hopefully, these ideas will be just the tip of the iceberg in generating their mathematical thinking when it comes to seeing and explaining the various patterns that they can see in their immediate surroundings.

The discussions and language that will be generated can then hopefully be transferred to discussions about numbers and into the work that they are doing at home or back at school.

The goal here is to provide rich contexts for learning by tapping into things that they can directly relate to without feeling that they are being assessed and under pressure tom perform.

Here goes...

Materials:

A camera, or device to record photos or videos (ipad, laptop, phone, ipod etc)

Shapes at Home

Find, draw or take a photo of a few things in your house or garden that are symmetrical. Draw in the line/s of symmetry on each object. Do some objects have only one line? More than one?

You may need to have a discussion about what Symmetry is. Folding Post It notes into equal shapes is a great way to do this.

Mirror Writing

Hold a piece of paper or a Post It note to your forehead. Write your name on it while watching in the mirror. (This can be tricky, but have a go!)

Now take it off and have a look at it. What does it look like?

Can you do this again to make secret messages or signs for others to read?

Look at my Face

Is your face symmetrical? Have a look in the mirror. Cover one half and look at the other half carefully. Now do the same again with the other side of your face. Have family members look at you and comment. Do the same with them.

Take a photo of your face. Cut it in half lengthways (along the line of symmetry). Glue one half on a blank page, draw in the other half. Doe it still look symmetrical?

Tile Patterns

Use some graph paper for this. I find 1cm square works best.

Look at the tile patterns in your bathroom or kitchen, or wherever there are tiles being used. Can you copy the pattern onto your graph paper? Can you identify the shapes being used?

Use the patterns you see as a way of coming up with your own design. How many different shapes are you using? Are you using colours as part of your pattern too?

4 Shape Patterns

Choose 4 different shapes.

How many different pattens can you come up with using these shapes?

Can you create different patterns by changing the size of some of the shapes?

You could draw these on your graph paper.

House Patterns

Take some photos of, or draw the different patterns you can see in and around your home.

Some will be obvious, others not so easy to find.

Look at cupboard doors and panels, carpet, fences, plants, brickwork etc.

Which patterns are most common? What shapes are being used?

Patterns in My Day

Are there patterns in your day?

Try and identify the patterns that exist in your day. eg What do you usually do as soon as you get up? How do you get dressed? What items do you put on in which order? Do you eat at certain times? Do you clean your teeth a certain way?

How many patterns can you identify in a typical day?

Nature Patterns

This time we are only looking at plants.

How closely do you notice the patterns in plants? Are all plants the same? What patterns are there in different flowers? Stems? Grasses?

Draw/photograph the different patterns. Are you able to group them into similar groups?

Repeat Patterns

Can you find examples of Repeat Patterns in your home? Some good places to look could be in your own bedroom - doona covers, pillow slips etc

Does your carpet have repeat patterns?

What about some tile patterns in the house?

Do any foods have repeat patterns on them? eg Fruit and veges. Books on the bookshelf? Pegs on the clothesline? Clothes hanging up in the cupboard? Even your clothes that may be all over the floor could have some type of pattern that sorts them!!!!

Game Patterns

During lockdown, Board Games have become very popular again.

Look at how some of these games are prepared. Are there patterns for the way you move around the board?

Do some games share similar patterns?

Look at playing cards and see what patterns are used on them. How would you design playing cards greater than 10? What patterns would you use?

Music Patterns

Like music? So do I!!

Listen to some of your favourite songs and try to pinpoint the patterns made by different instruments eg Drums, guitar riffs, bass guitar etc. Can you predict when each instrument will feature at each part of the song?

Patterns with the beat - is it a slow or fast beat?

Can you follow the beat with your own musical instrument ( eg an upside down ice cream container, jars with water, cardboard box and pencil etc)

Pet Patterns

Can you see any patterns on your pet/s?

You might have to look closely, but they are definitely there!!

Think of the patterns made by our fingerprints, that could be a clue!

Can you get a record of similar prints from your pets?

The Pattern Palace

Which room in your house has the most patterns? Predict first, then go and investigate.

Were you surprised at ow many you could discover? Where they were? How simple, or detailed each pattern was?

Pantry Patterns

Look at different food items in your pantry.

Can you identify some just by the patterns on their packaging? Do you really have to read the label, or does the pattern on the packaging remind you straight away?

Draw or photograph some, and point out the parts that really get your attention.

Are there patterns in the way that your pantry is set up?

What about other cupboards in the house?

Car and Bike Patterns

Go and check out your bike, or any bikes at your home.

What patterns can you see? They could involve structure, colours, positions, symmetry. What do the wheels look like? How are the spokes positioned?

The car - are things set out in patterns? Where is the symmetry?

Look at the front and back of the car - point out the symmetry. Are there symmetrical shapes within other symmetrical shapes?