Mathematics / Foundation / Number and Algebra / Patterns and algebra

Curriculum content descriptions

Sort and classify familiar objects and explain the basis for these classifications. Copy, continue and create patterns with objects and drawings (ACMNA005)

Elaborations
  • observing natural patterns in the world around us
  • creating and describing patterns using materials, sounds, movements or drawings
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Numeracy Numeracy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
ScOT terms

Classification

Online

reSolve: Patterns in a circle

This sequence of lessons explores the various possibilities for constructing a circular pattern using different colours. Students decorate party hats using two and then three different coloured pompoms and investigate the combinations that arise. They then create circular patterns using four colours and identify similarities ...

Interactive

Cake time: Peg + cat

Peg and Cat use a pattern to decorate a cake. See what type of pattern they use.

Interactive

Monster choir: making patterns

Help monsters in a choir to make animal sounds in order. Make a sequence of up to four sounds. Choose monsters so that their sounds match the sequence. Repeat the pattern to make a song.

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Tray Bake

This resource is a web page containing a short task to explore counting patterns. Dominoes are used to make counting patterns, add the next two dominoes that follow the pattern. A printable resource is also available to support the task. This resource is an activity from the NRICH website.

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Investigating the Dilution Series

This resource is a web page containing a short task to explore counting patterns. Dominoes are used to make counting patterns, add the next two dominoes that follow the pattern. A printable resource is also available to support the task. This resource is an activity from the NRICH website.

Online

reSolve: Patterns: Attribute Train

This sequence of two lessons explores the similarity and differences of objects based on attributes. The sequence begins by looking at the attributes of colour and shape and then introduces a third attribute of size. Students are asked to determine what an object might look like when one or two of its attributes are changed. ...

Online

reSolve: Statistics - Shoes

This lesson engages students in gathering and representing data on the shoes that students wear to school. Students work together as a class to sort their shoes into different categories of their choosing. They organise and represent their data using a picture graph, then use the graph to answer questions and make simple ...

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Next Domino

This resource is a web page containing a short task to explore counting patterns. Dominoes are used to make counting patterns, add the next two dominoes that follow the pattern. A printable resource is also available to support the task. This resource is an activity from the NRICH website.

Video

Play School: Buttons and shapes

Have you ever looked at the buttons on your clothes? What shapes are they? You will find that most buttons are circles, but sometimes they can come in really different and interesting shapes, sizes and colours! What are some of the button shapes and colours mentioned in this video?

Interactive

Sites2See: Patterns and Algebra

Selected links to a range of interactive online resources for the study of patterns and algebra in Foundation to Year 6 Mathematics.

Downloadable

First steps in mathematics: Chance and data

This guide supports teachers to develop students’ understanding, skills and processes related to probability and statistics.

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Finding Shapes and Objects - Calculate

The focus of this activity is for students to count a variety of objects in their home environment and write the number for each.

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Whisper Whisper Loud - Calculate

This game explores number sequences and practises skip counting.

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Work sample Foundation Year Mathematics: Sorting shapes and objects

This work sample demonstrates evidence of student learning in relation to aspects of the achievement standards for Foundation Year Mathematics. The primary purpose for the work sample is to demonstrate the standard, so the focus is on what is evident in the sample not how it was created. The sample is an authentic representation ...

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Pass The Count - Calculate

This game allows students to practice their skip counting skills in small groups.

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See & Say - Calculate

This class warm-up game focuses on practising addition and subtraction strategies and developing algebraic thinking by using a rule applied to a list of numbers.

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Stand up, sit down - Calculate

This game focuses on listening and matching shape properties to the correct shape, and using mathematical vocabulary to describe shapes.

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Pattern & Algebra Foundation - Calculate

The focus of this activity is to discover if students can make, copy, continue and explain repeating patterns. Often students will only be asked to continue patterns to the right, but ensure you ask students to continue patterns to the left. Like the number sequence a pattern can extend in both directions.

Online

Shapes and objects: Foundation – planning tool

This planning resource for Foundation is for the topic of Shapes and objects. Students learn to identify, name and sort common shapes such as circles, triangles, squares and rectangles.

Online

Repeating and growing patterns: Foundation – planning tool

This planning resource for Foundation is for the topic of Repeating and growing patterns. Students begin to appreciate patterns that occur around them. They learn to recognise, copy and continue different repeating patterns and observe natural patterns in the world around them.