Shape Patterns
Shapes can be arranged in patterns just like numbers and objects. We can look at the order of the shapes to find what repeats.
Learning Objectives
- Recognise simple shape patterns.
- Identify repeating groups of shapes.
- Find what comes next in a shape pattern.
- Use shape patterns to complete a sequence.
Repeating Two-Shape Patterns
A simple shape pattern may repeat two shapes.
The circle and triangle repeat.
Repeating Three Shapes
A pattern can also contain three shapes before repeating.
The repeating group is square, circle and triangle.
Finding the Next Shape
The pattern repeats triangle, circle and square.
Looking at Shape Order
The order of shapes matters. Even if the same shapes are used, changing their order creates a different pattern.
Both use the same shapes, but they follow different orders.
Patterns Can Change in Size
Some simple patterns can also use shapes of different sizes.
Common Mistakes
- Ignoring the order of shapes.
- Looking at only the last shape.
- Choosing a shape that does not follow the repeating group.
- Confusing a shape's size with its position in the pattern.
Practice
1. Continue: ● ▲ ● ▲ ● ___.
2. Continue: ■ ● ▲ ■ ● ___.
3. Find the missing shape: ▲ ■ ▲ ___ ▲ ■.
4. What group repeats in ● ● ▲ ● ● ▲?
5. Create a pattern using three different shapes.
Try It Yourself
Draw two or three different shapes and arrange them in a repeating order. Ask someone else to identify what comes next.
Quick Revision
- Shapes can form repeating patterns.
- The order of shapes is important.
- Look for the group that repeats.
- Use the repeating group to predict what comes next.
What Comes Next?
Now you will learn how to find missing parts in different patterns.