The final version will be posted soon. To maximize student learning, certain prerequisites are necessary to use this activity. This interactive applet highlights different aspects of students' understanding and use of patterns as they analyze relationships and make predictions, as discussed in the Algebra Standard. The framework for these lessons is the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics . It is strongly recommended that teachers go online and learn the program so they can provide personal instruction to the students in combination with the tutorial.
Patterns are a way for students to recognize order and are important in all aspects of mathematics.
Creating pattern units with the interactive applet can be beneficial for students who are not yet successful in creating their own patterns with physical manipulatives. These students simply make strings of objects, without order or repetition, rather than creating units that are repeated. Using the interactive computer applet, students will create and study pattern units of three, four and five squares. The interactive applet is designed so students may place entire units on the grid one at a time, or have the computer fill the entire grid. Throughout the activity, students predict, explore, and analyze similarities and differences between the repeating pattern units.