Ages 5+ · Coding · Patterns and algorithms
Pattern train
🚂 train 🔵 blue car 🟡 yellow car 🔵 blue car
A pattern train. The big idea A pattern is a part that repeats, in the same order, again and again.
How it works A pattern is a part that repeats, in the same order, again and again.
Find the part that repeats, and you know the whole pattern.
If one car rolls away, you still know its color.
A pattern • blue, yellow, blue, yellow • clap, stomp, clap, stomp • big, small, big, small Not a pattern • blue, yellow, yellow, green • cat, dog, dog, bird A pattern, and not a pattern. Example 1: Mia's train Blue car, yellow car, blue car, yellow car. The same two colors come round and round. The part that repeats is blue, yellow, so it is a pattern. Example 2: The lost car The cars go blue, yellow, blue, yellow, blue, and then the last car rolls away. The pattern says blue is followed by yellow. So the lost car is yellow, and Bo does not even need to look. 🔵 blue 🟡 yellow 🔵 blue 🟡 yellow 🔵 blue ❓ yellow
Which car is missing? Example 3: Not a pattern Blue, yellow, yellow, green. No part comes round again. So it is not a pattern. Example 4: Big and small Big, small, big, small. A part repeats, so it is a pattern. Say the part out loud: big, small. Words to know pattern A part that repeats, in the same order. repeat To come again and again. conductor The one who drives the train. Watch out Two colors can still make a mess if no part repeats. A pattern keeps the same order every time. Say the part out loud to hear if it repeats. A pattern can be colors, sounds or sizes. Try it Is blue, yellow, blue, yellow a pattern? Is blue, yellow, yellow, green a pattern? What part repeats in clap, stomp, clap, stomp? Blue, yellow, blue, yellow, blue, and a car rolls away. What color is it? Answers: 1. Yes · 2. No · 3. Clap, stomp · 4. Yellow
Try at home With a grown-up, line up socks, blocks or toy cars in a pattern with two kinds, like big, small, big, small. Say the part that repeats out loud. Then ask the grown-up to close their eyes while you take one away, and see if they can say what is missing.
For grown-ups Line up socks, blocks or toy cars in a pattern with two kinds, like big, small, big, small. Say the part out loud, then close your eyes while your child takes one away and see if you can say what is missing.