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Developing concepts of pattern

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  • For teachers and practitioners
  • Espresso
  • Developing concepts of pattern
  • Espresso
  • 50: Covariational reasoning
  • 49: Teaching and learning equivalence
  • 48: Early development of functional thinking
  • 47: Developing concepts of pattern
  • 46: Building and breaking 2D and 3D shapes
  • 45: Teaching logical reasoning
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07 September 2023

An infographic showing Different ways of seeing the same pattern sequence

What does research suggest about developing concepts of pattern?

  • Pattern and patterning activities are pervasive in the world around us and are central ideas within mathematics
  • In school mathematics, children are likely to be introduced to three broad types of pattern: repeating patterns; spatial structural patterns; and growing patterns
  • Early patterning activities may have a positive effect on later mathematical attainment, especially representing or duplicating a pattern using different materials from the original (a process called abstraction)
  • Pattern activities have the potential to support the development of symbol and structure sense, generalisation, and the use of variables; focusing on describing what stays the same and what changes between pairs of elements in a pattern is encouraged
  • Playing with visual patterns that can be decomposed into recognisable parts supports the uncovering of generalised rules
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