Patterning

Patterning is a foundational math skill for preschoolers. It can takes months or even an entire school year for preschoolers to achieve mastery of patterning. For this reason it is important to provide your students with plenty of patterning practice all year long.

Objective: Recognize, describe, create, and extend patterns

Different ways to pattern:

• Sound/Rhythm
• Movement
• Concrete objects
• Color
• Shape
• Size

Patterning Books

Using Music to Teach Patterning Skills:

I routinely use songs to help reinforce math skills in my classroom. I have used HeidiSongs DVD’s with great success in my classroom. The Musical Math DVD has several songs for teaching different types of patterns. HeidiSongs are effective because they use a multi-sensory approach which adds movement to each song so the students sing the song and move at the same time. When combined, these strategies provide a more meaningful experience that will promote retention of the concept being taught.

Patterning Activities

Ice Cube Tray Patterns

Materials: ice cube trays, one per child, colored pom-pom’s
Give the students a variety of colored pom-pom’s and show them how to pattern in the ice cube tray.

Eraser Patterns

Materials: inexpensive erasers from Oriental Trading to go with your theme
You can order inexpensive erasers from Oriental Trading to match just about any theme.  Use the erasers to make patterns on paper.

Stamp Patterns

Materials: inexpensive stamps from Oriental Trading to go with your theme
You can order inexpensive stamps from Oriental Trading to match just about any theme.  Use the stamps to make patterns on paper.  It works best if you use strips of paper with a grid as pictured above.

Math Resources:

Math Links:
One-to-One
Numbers
Shapes
Sorting
Colors
Prekinders