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Mathematics / Year 3 / Number and Algebra / Patterns and algebra

Curriculum content descriptions

Describe, continue, and create number patterns resulting from performing addition or subtraction (ACMNA060)

Elaborations
  • identifying and writing the rules for number patterns
  • describing a rule for a number pattern, then creating the pattern
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Numeracy Numeracy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
ScOT terms

Number patterns

Video

What is a fractal?

Do you know what a fractal is? Basically, fractals are never-ending patterns created by repeated mathematical equations. In this clip, Yuliya, a student at MIT (in the USA) describes the properties of fractals and shows you where they can be found in technology and nature. Have a good look at the world around you and see ...

Video

Fun with fractals

Do you know how to recognise a fractal? Watch this video to find out! What are the examples given of fractals found in nature? Can you think of any others? Why not have a go at doing your own drawing of the Sierpinski Triangle?

Interactive

Musical number patterns: musical times

Make some music by building up rhythms from four instruments. Make a counting rule that matches a pattern on a number line. Select the start number and then select a number to count by. For example, describe a sound pattern where a saxophone waits on the first note, and then plays on every eighth note. Add a second number ...

Online

reSolve: Algebra: Number Sequences

This sequence of lessons aims to build students' algebraic thinking through explorations of additive number patterns. Students are challenged to solve problems to generate patterns, explore strategies for addition and subtraction and apply their skills to constructing their own new patterns.The lessons are outlined in detail ...

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

Algebra: Foundation to Year 9

This comprehensive resource describes the progression of algebra-related ideas and algebraic thinking. The resource demonstrates examples of relevant teaching strategies, investigations, activity plans and connected concepts in algebra including teaching and cultural implications.

Interactive

Cassowary ecology quiz

Explore facts about the life of cassowaries: physical characteristics; diet; habitat; life cycles; and locations. Interact with graphs to see how much people can help cassowaries. Work through ecology notes and resources. Answer questions as you go; express your answers as fractions. This learning object is one in a series ...

Online

Primary mathematics: games, simulations and modelling

These seven learning activities, which focus on 'games, simulations and modelling' using a variety of tools (software) and devices (hardware), illustrate the ways in which content, pedagogy and technology can be successfully and effectively integrated in order to promote learning. In the activities, teachers use games, ...

Video

Numbers Count: What are factors?

What are factors? Watch as the jelly babies in this clip show you! What are the factors of 12? How many factors does the number 11 have? Try explaining to a friend what a prime number is.

Video

Odd and even numbers

Do you know what makes an odd number and what makes an even number? There are a few ways to test whether a number is odd or even. Find out about one method in this video, then see if you can discover at least one other method.

Video

BTN: What is an abacus?

An abacus is a tool that helps people solve maths problems. Why might some people still use, and encourage the use of, an abacus when there are more contemporary tools like calculators?

Video

MathXplosion, Ep 6: Zero the hero

What is the role of zero as a placeholder for large numbers such as 1 million, 1 billion and 1 trillion? Find out about the notion of place value and powers of ten through the act of bead counting.

Interactive

The difference bar: generate easy subtractions

Learn how to split up numbers in your head. Use a linear partitioning tool to help find the difference between pairs of two-digit numbers such as 25 and 34. In these examples, the difference is always less than ten. Split the numbers into parts that are easy to work with, work out each part and then solve the original calculation.

Interactive

Wishball: hundreds

Test your understanding of place value with three-digit numbers. Start with a three-digit whole number such as 507. A spinner provides a randomly generated digit. Choose its place value and add it to (or subtract it from) your starting number. Work towards a given target number, say 539, using other digits. You can choose ...

Interactive

Circus towers: square stacks

Work out how many acrobats are needed to form square-shaped human towers. Start by building a square tower with four acrobats: two acrobats in the base layer and two acrobats standing on their shoulders. Examine a table and graph of the total number of acrobats in the towers. Predict the number of acrobats needed to build ...

Interactive

The array

Use an array-building tool to help solve multiplications. Explore strategies to break up multiplications. Create and solve easy multiplications such as 9x3. Examine relationships between rows, columns and areas in arrays.

Interactive

The difference bar: go figure

This tutorial is suitable for use with a screen reader. It explains how to split up numbers in your head when finding the difference between two numbers such as 26 and 73. Work through sample questions and instructions explaining how to use linear partitioning techniques. Find the difference between pairs of numbers. Split ...

Interactive

Waste and materials – sustainability action process (Years 3–6)

This resource guides students through an extended school-based or local investigation focussed on waste and materials using the five-step sustainability action process. The resource supports the investigation of a real-world issue or problem. Students develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate ...

Interactive

Sites2See – number for primary

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

Online

Counting games - years 1 and 2

This is a teacher resource that includes a set of student activities including counting games, focusing on numbers to 100, accompanied by copy masters and a detailed teacher guide for each activity. The games include the Korean number counting game sam yew gew - referred to as 'sam-yuk-gu' in the Australian Curriculum. ...