Patterns are everywhere: on clothes, on walls and in music. Today we become pattern detectives!
Repeating patterns
A repeating pattern has a part that repeats again and again. This part is called the core.
🔴 🔵 🔴 🔵 🔴 🔵
The core is 🔴 🔵. It has 2 parts, so we call it a “two” pattern.
▲ ■ ● ▲ ■ ● ▲ ■ ●
The core is ▲ ■ ●. It has 3 parts, so it is a “three” pattern.
Spot the mistake
🍎 🍌 🍎 🍌 🍌 🍌 🍎 🍌
Can you see the mistake? The fifth fruit should be an apple 🍎.
Growing patterns
In a growing pattern, something gets bigger each time.
■ ■■ ■■■ ■■■■
Each step has one more square. The next step will have 5 squares.
Number patterns
Numbers can make patterns too: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 … We add 2 each time.
TRY ITPattern detective
Look at the pattern. Find the part that repeats.
Let’s practise
Try each one. Then tap Show answer to check.
1. What comes next? 🔺 🟦 🔺 🟦 🔺 ___
Show answer
🟦 (a blue square).
2. What is the core of ⭐ 🌙 🌙 ⭐ 🌙 🌙?
Show answer
⭐ 🌙 🌙. It is a “three” pattern.
3. Find the mistake: A B A B B B A B
Show answer
The fifth letter should be A.
4. What comes next? 5, 10, 15, ___
Show answer
20.
5. Growing pattern: 1, 2, 3, 4, ___
Show answer
5.
6. Clap, clap, stamp, clap, clap, stamp … What comes next?
Show answer
Clap.
Quick check
1. What do we call the part of a pattern that repeats?
Show answer
The core.
2. Is 🟢 🟡 🟣 🟢 🟡 🟣 a “two”, “three” or “four” pattern?
Show answer
A “three” pattern.
3. Make your own “two” pattern with sounds.
Show answer
Any answer that repeats two parts, for example clap, tap, clap, tap.
Maths words
Say these words with a grown-up. Can you use each one in a sentence?
pattern · repeat · core · “two” pattern · “three” pattern · growing pattern · rule · mistake
Try it at home
- Make a pattern with spoons and forks on the table.
- Thread beads or pasta in a “three” pattern.
- Look for patterns on your clothes, the fence or the tiles.
- Make a growing pattern with blocks: 1 block, 2 blocks, 3 blocks …
For parents and teachers
After this lesson, your child should be able to:
- find the core of a repeating pattern and call it a “two”, “three” or “four” pattern
- continue a pattern and fill in a missing part
- spot and fix a mistake in a pattern
- describe and continue a simple growing pattern
- make their own patterns with shapes, objects, sounds and numbers
Ask your child to say the pattern aloud (“red, blue, red, blue”) – hearing the rhythm helps them find the core.
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Next: Equal and Not Equal
Attributions to media used in this post:
Colourful Madras Checks Fabric.jpg – Shweta Venkateswaran – CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
© 2026 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved.