Math: Algebra

Pre-K-2: Instructional programs from Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 should enable all students to understand patterns, relations and functions.

• In Pre-Kindergarten through grade 2, all students should recognize, describe and extend patterns such as sequences of sounds and shapes or simple numeric patterns and translate from one representation to another.
• In grades 3-5, all students should describe, extend, and make generalizations about geometric and numeric patterns.

Standards are listed with permission from Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, copyright 2000 by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). NCTM does not endorse the content or validity of these alignments.

Source: Principles and Standards for School Mathematics

Figure A

Figure B

Supplies Used: Construction Paper, Black Marking Pen, Glue, Poster Board

The teacher will die-cut the materials for student use prior to the lesson.

1. Label a piece of poster board with the title "What Comes Next?"
2. Die-cut multiple shapes from the SM Geometrics 4 Die Set using various colors of cardstock or construction paper. Alternately, die-cut the LG Pattern Block Multiples 6 Die Set (1" sides) to place more problems on the poster board.
3. Establish a pattern or sequence and glue the geometric shapes on the poster board. Three choices for the next geometric shape in the series may be shown at the end (Figure A).
4. Students will write down the correct shape, may draw the correct shape, or the shapes in the answer may be numbered with the student writing the number of the correct answer (Figure B).
5. Directions may also be given verbally with students constructing their own pattern or sequence using the geometric die-cut shapes (see Main Photo).