Planning GuideKindergarten
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Repeating Patterns

Strand: Patterns and Relations (Patterns)
Outcome: 1

Step 3: Plan for Instruction

Guiding Questions

  • What learning opportunities and experiences should I provide to promote learning of the outcomes and permit students to demonstrate their learning?
  • What teaching strategies and resources should I use?
  • How will I meet the diverse learning needs of my students?

A. Assessing Prior Knowledge and Skills

Before introducing new material, consider ways to assess and build on students' knowledge and skills related to patterns. For example:

  • Using concrete materials, ask students to identify what might come next; e.g., using clear colour counters on the overhead projector in an ABABAB pattern.
  • Have students line up at the front of the room and make a pattern by having one student put his or her leg out, the next put his or her arm out and so on until everyone is included in the pattern.
  • Create an up–down pattern by having alternating students stand and crouch.
  • Create a forward–backward pattern by having one student face forward and the next student face backward until all are included in the pattern around the room.

As you do these patterns, have students say the patterns out loud to communicate the pattern verbally. Ask questions such as, "What could come next?" or "Why is Billy crouching?"

If a student appears to have difficulty with these tasks, consider further individual assessment, such as a structured interview, to determine the student's level of skill and understanding.

Sample Structured Interview: Assessing Prior Knowledge and Skills  Word (Coming soon)

B. Choosing Instructional Strategies

Consider the following strategies when planning lessons.

  • Wherever possible, the pattern activities should involve some physical materials.
  • Students should communicate the pattern in various ways.
  • Provide opportunities for students to draw simple shape patterns.
  • Encourage students to display concrete patterns whenever possible, either with manipulatives or by enacting the pattern physically.
  • To motivate students, use familiar objects whenever possible.
  • Students should also be encouraged to demonstrate oral patterns, including singing or clapping/stomping.
  • Expect students to explain, verbally, how they know what comes next.
  • Whenever possible, use activities that encourage students to look for similarities and differences in patterns.
  • As the year progresses, students should be encouraged to communicate patterns, using symbols such as ABABAB.

C. Choosing Learning Activities

Learning Activities are examples of activities that could be used to develop student understanding of the concepts identified in Step 1.

Sample Learning Activities
Teaching Patterns and Relations Download Activities  Word