Mathematics / Year 6 / Number and Algebra / Patterns and algebra

Curriculum content descriptions

Continue and create sequences involving whole numbers, fractions and decimals. Describe the rule used to create the sequence (ACMNA133)

Elaborations
  • identifying and generalising number patterns
  • investigating additive and multiplicative patterns such as the number of tiles in a geometric pattern, or the number of dots or other shapes in successive repeats of a strip or border pattern looking for patterns in the way the numbers increase/decrease
General capabilities
  • Literacy Literacy
  • Numeracy Numeracy
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and creative thinking
ScOT terms

Sequences (Number patterns),  Mathematical expressions

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Patterns, primes and Pascal's Triangle

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Spiral away with Fibonacci

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MathXplosion, Ep 25: Mobius strip twist

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Creating my own spreadsheet to convert binary to decimal

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When I post something online how permanent is it?

Students engage in a photo rip up activity to emphasize the permanency of online information, they explore factor trees, doubling and line graphs through the lens of sharing information, and they collaboratively develop a set of protocols around sharing information online.

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Use rules and algorithms: Year 6 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 6 is for the topic of Use rules and algorithms. Students generate and investigate patterns using concrete materials, geometric shapes, calculators and spreadsheets. Some examples are growing patterns using dots, cubes or sticks; systematically exploring dividing by 9 or multiplying by 11 ...

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Circus towers: square stacks

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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.

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Representing Patterns - Calculate

In this activity, students examine the representation of patterns, including as diagrams, charts and formulas.

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Fractions Year 6 - Calculate

This activity challenges students to unpack a rule and see if it is being used correctly. Often students will just learn a rule and blindly use it. This task asks students to stop and think and then make corrections to ensure the rule works in all cases (generalise).

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ABC News: Mapping a sea voyage: calculating distance

Scientists involved in the Two Bays Project describe data collection methods for their 20-day expedition around Port Phillip and Western Port bays. Watch this clip to view the route mapped out by the scientists. Use Google Maps to recreate the route and calculate the total distance travelled.

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Algebra basics video

Use this video as a springboard to introduce algebraic thinking, and to apply that thinking to a financial context, drawing on reasoning.

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First steps in mathematics: Number – Book 2

The content of this book is organised into topics including understanding operations, calculating, and reasoning about number patterns.

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MoneySmart: The fun begins: plan, budget, profit!

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