Produce Patterns

Activity Overview

Some of the most important foundational skills for early numeracy and literacy development are noticing similarities and differences, identifying patterns, and creating repeating patterns. As children begin to understand what comes next, they can more accurately make predictions and develop their sense of logic and reasoning. Patterns can be found everywhere in our daily lives – let’s start exploring them together!

What You Need

• Up to four types of produce. Collect up to 12 items of each type - this way there are enough materials to create an example to be replicated if necessary.

Steps

1. Explore similarities and differences amongst the produce. Promote inquiry and curiosity through asking guiding questions.

2. Use the produce to make patterns. Take turns making a complete pattern for your partner to recreate

3. Make one long sequence with partners taking turns adding the next item in sequence.

4. Try to create the following patterns (Note: the patterns get increasingly complex in nature. Play the game up to the point that the child is able to grasp the concept...and then play a little more).

   1. AB, AB (i.e. banana, orange, banana, orange….)

   2. AAB, AAB

   3. ABB, ABB

   4. ABC, ABC

   5. AABC, AABC

   6. ABBC, ABBC

   7. ABCC, ABCC

   8. AABBCC, AABBCC

   9. ABCD, ABCD

Guiding Questions

• What is the same? What is different?

• Which items are hard? Which are softer? Why are they different?

• Can you sort them by color? Why are they different colors?

Extensions

• Make up your own patterns!

• Become pattern detectives - what patterns can you find around the home or on a walk?