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Repeating Patterns

Strand: Patterns and Relations (Patterns)
Outcomes: 1, 2

Step 4: Assess Student Learning

Guiding Questions

• Look back at what you determined as acceptable evidence in Step 2.
• What are the most appropriate methods and activities for assessing student learning?
• How will I align my assessment strategies with my teaching strategies?

Sample Assessment Tasks

In addition to ongoing assessment throughout the lessons, consider the following sample activities to evaluate students' learning at key milestones. Suggestions are given for assessing all students as a class or in groups, individual students in need of further evaluation and individual or groups of students in a variety of contexts.

A. Whole Class/Group Assessment

Note: Performance-based assessment tasks are under development.

1. Show a pattern of cubes, e.g., RGGRGGRGG, and ask students to tell you what the pattern is. Then show a different pattern of cubes; e.g., YYBYYBYYB. Have students identify the new pattern. Then ask students to tell you how the patterns are different and how they are the same.
2. Tell students, "Mary has six green triangles and three orange squares." Show students the pieces on the overhead. Ask, "Can she make two different patterns?" Ask students to draw two possible patterns that Mary could make and explain the patterns. Ask, "What comes next in the pattern?"
3. For each pattern below, ask students to do an action representation, using claps, stomps and hops. Have students identify what the core pattern is and record it, using letter notation.
   • Circle, Square, Rectangle, Circle, Square, Rectangle, Circle, Square, Rectangle
   • Red, Red, Blue, Red, Red, Blue, Red, Red, Blue
   • Horizontal, Vertical, Horizontal, Vertical, Horizontal, Vertical
   • Green, Yellow, Yellow, Green, Yellow, Yellow, Green, Yellow, Yellow

B. One-on-One Assessment

Assessment activities can be used with individual students, especially students who may be having difficulty with the outcome.

Examples of One on One Assessment  

C. Applied Learning

Provide opportunities for students to use their pattern strategies in a practical situation and notice whether or not the strategies transfer.

1. Using wallpaper samples (stores will often provide old sample books free of charge), have students look for patterns in the wallpaper. They can make artwork out of the wallpaper patterns they choose.
2. Using stickers and stamps/stamp pads, have students create pattern artwork to use as a wallpaper border around the classroom. They could also use finger paints and make handprints of different colours in pairs or triads.
3. Read pattern books, such as the ones listed below, and have students identify the patterns.

   Carle, Eric. The Grouchy Ladybug. New York: HarperCollins, 1996.
   Carle, Eric. The Very Hungry Caterpillar. New York: Philomel Books, 2002.
   Hutchins, Pat. The Doorbell Rang. New York: Greenwillow Books, 1986.

   With these books, you can do artwork, cooking, reading and creating your own pattern book activities.

4. Use musical patterns to demonstrate patterns. Using singing patterns (e.g., do, mi, mi) or rhythms on a drum or clapping to represent a pattern are practical and easy ways to show patterns.

Related Resources

• Assessment in the Mathematics