Pattern Games for Math
Introducing patterns to children in school can be a fun math unit, as it deals with basic logic and problem solving. There are a number of easy classroom pattern games--which do not require a great deal of additional materials or preparation--that can be used to reinforce lessons.
Other People Are Reading
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The Uninvited Guest
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Draw a simple house on the board and create a simple pattern set inside the house, such as "1, 3, 5, 7, 26, 9." Tell your students that the number "1" is throwing a party and has invited several of his friends over. But a certain number has tried to sneak into the party without an invitation. Which number is it? Have your students answer and give a reason why that number was not invited.
Beading
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Challenge your students to come up with a pattern using beads of different colors and shapes. Have them start with a set of three, then build up to higher patterns. When you have built up to a set of six, assign a number to one of the beads, and see if your students can successfully create a pattern based on the visual manipulatives.
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"Guess The Rule"
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Create a pattern on the board. It may help to have your students in two teams, if the patterns are slightly complicated. Have the students try to guess the pattern's rule. For example, if the pattern is "2, 5, 11, 23, 47, 95," the rule of the pattern is "double the previous number and add one."
"What's Next?"
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Group your students in a large circle and and tell them a pattern rule, such as "Add 3 to each number." With a large beach ball or hacky sack, say the first number in the pattern and toss the ball to a student in the circle. The students will then say the next number in the patten and toss the ball to another student. Once the number starts to get too large, stop the students, and say "faster, in reverse." The students then toss the ball back to each other faster, and going back through the pattern in opposite order.
Everyday Patterns
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Challenge your students to come up with patterns in everyday life. You can point students in various different directions, such as yearly or weekly schedules, the timing on traffic lights in intersections, the symmetry of snowflakes, moon cycles and ocean tides.
Online Resources
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Use computers to reinforce the basic concepts of patterns for your students. Several education sites feature elementary pattern games. TeachersMousepad.com has a number of games, including manipulating color patterns and games that allow you to create patterns using sounds. FunBrain.com is another site that uses basic pattern concepts and incorporates them into a number of math games.
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