Linking cubes or Unifix cubes can be used to build towers or trains with every other cube or every third cube a certain color to illustrate, recognize, and practice skip counting patterns. Students write their first name repeatedly on a 10x10 grid, and then color the first letter of their name to create a pattern. They discuss the patterns formed. Students identify the same pattern in a variety of contexts. For example, blackwhite-blackwhite is like sitstandsitstand and ABAB and updownupdown and straightcurvestraightcurve.
Students identify patterns on a calendar using pictures or numerals.
For example, in November, even dates might be marked with a snowflake, and odd dates with a picture of a turkey. Or, they might mark each date with the day of the week. Students create a pattern using various rubber stamp blocks or picture designs. They color congruent shapes of a mosaic design with the same color. Use tables, rules, variables, open sentences, and graphs to describe patterns and other relationships.