Number Patterns Teaching Resources
Explore number patterns in your maths classes this school year with fun worksheets, games and more teacher resources created to help your students understand how numbers in a sequence relate to one another.
Aligned with the Australian Version 9.0 maths standards, the printable and digital activities in this collection were created by the maths teachers on the Teach Starter team to help you save time on your lesson plans.
Whether this is your first year teaching about number patterns or you're just looking for a little extra help, we've got you covered. Read on for a primer from our teacher team! We explain what number patterns are so you can share with your class, plus we explore three common patterns.
What Are Number Patterns? A Kid-Friendly Definition
A number pattern is a series of numbers that each follow the same rule. These patterns or sequences can help us find missing numbers or identify what number will come next in a series.
For example, let's say you are given the following list of numbers:
- 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24
This is an example of a number pattern in which the next number in the series is 4 more than the previous number. Once you can identify the pattern in a series of numbers like this one, you can then use that pattern to determine what number comes next or even what numbers could have come before the list began.
This is one of the many reasons number patterns are an important part of building our students' algebraic reasoning skills. They help kids understand how numbers can be related to one another and apply what they know about those relationships to solve problems.
3 Common Types of Number Patterns
We can't talk about number patterns without breaking down the different types your students are going to encounter in their maths journey!
Linear Patterns
Linear patterns are number patterns in which the numbers increase or decrease by the same amount each time.
The example used above — in which each number in the series increased by a quantity of 4 — is a simple example of a linear pattern.
Geometric Number Patterns
Another type of pattern students may have to contend with is the geometric number pattern. This type involves numbers that are multiplied or divided by a constant factor.
The multiplication table is an example of a geometric number pattern.
Recursive Patterns
Students will have to make full use of their understanding of the four whole number operations to work with recursive patterns. That's because this pattern involves finding each successive number in the sequence by performing a specific operation on the previous number(s).
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Odd and Even Numbers Poster Set
Help students memorise the rules for identifying odd and even numbers.
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Even or Odd Socks Worksheets
Predict and confirm if a number is odd or even by pairing socks using this fun set of worksheets.
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Odd and Even Numbers PowerPoint
A 23 slide editable PowerPoint template to use when introducing odd and even numbers to younger students.
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Roll and Multiply Interactive Activity
Teach your students the multiplication strategy of repeated addition using this colourful interactive dice game!
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Skip Counting Puzzles Interactive Activity
Complete the skip counting pattern and reveal the complete picture!
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Even and Odd Numbers Task Cards - Word Problems
Identify odd and even numbers within word problems with a set of task cards.
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Skip Counting Worksheets (Complete the Series)
Use this set of skip counting worksheets to check student understanding of skip counting in increasing intervals of 5, 10 and 100, by finishing a series.
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Counting by 1s Picture Puzzles
Use this fun sorting activity for your students to practice ordering numbers in sequential order, and improve their skip counting skills!
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Writing Equations – Interactive Mystery Picture Reveal
Practise representing written statements as a single-variable equation with this self-checking interactive activity.
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Writing Equations – I Have, Who Has? Game
Practise identifying word sentences for different equations with an exciting I Have, Who Has game.
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Number Neighbourhood - Number Line Sequencing Cards
Print a set of colourful numbered houses to use for skip counting, ordering, and comparing numbers.
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Christmas Skip Counting - Printable Puzzles
Grab a set of 10 printable Christmas puzzles to help students skip count in the classroom.
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Evaluating Expressions – Paper Chain Activity
Use your understanding of the order of operations to evaluate expressions with one or two variables with this paper chain activity.
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Writing Equations – Match Up Activity
Practise matching word sentences to equations with variables with this 36-card match-up activity.
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Evaluating Expressions – Task Cards
Use this set of 24 task cards to practise evaluating expressions with a single variable.
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Writing Equations – Task Cards
Practise writing an equation to represent a situation with this set of 24 task cards.
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Writing Equations – Worksheet
Practise writing equations to represent a situation with this maths worksheet designed for year 7 students.
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Prime Factorisation Match-Up
Practise how to find the prime factorisation of a number with this match-up activity.
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Rearranging Parts Word Problems Worksheet
Extend students with this rearranging parts word problem worksheet.
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Naming Number Patterns Board Game
Play this number patterns board game which includes 36 question cards.
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Decimal Patterns Match-Up Activity
Use this match-up activity to determine patterns and extend numerical sequences by adding and subtracting decimals.
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Secret Number Patterns – Card Game
Keep your secret number pattern hidden as you race to be the first to create number patterns based on given rules.
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100 Chart with Missing Numbers
Practice counting forward beginning from a given number with this set of 100 charts and recording sheets.
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Repeating Patterns Spinner
Have fun using this spinner to reinforce understanding of patterning!
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Missing Numbers in a Sequence – Task Cards
A set of 12 task cards to consolidate students' understanding of counting forwards and backwards by 1s.
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Numbers 1-20
A bright number board representing numbers 1-20.
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Comparing Numbers Board Game
A hands-on Board Game to practise comparing numbers less than ten.
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Skip Counting Desk Number Line – Fours
An educational desk number line showing skip counting by fours.
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Prime and Composite Numbers Poster
A poster set to help students learn the numbers and vocabulary associated with prime and composite numbers.
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Numbers 1 to 100 - Odds, Evens and Counting in 5's - Trees
Numbers 1 to 100 displayed on a bright and colourful poster.
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1–120 Number Board
A black and white chart with numbers 1–120 that can be used for a variety of activities.
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Dot-to-Dot Drawing - Numbers by 1 - Dove
Join the dots and numbers to make a picture.
- Number Patterns Worksheets
- Number Patterns Games
- Number Patterns Templates
- Number Patterns Teaching Presentations
- Number Patterns Posters
- Number Patterns for Foundation Year
- Number Patterns for Year 1
- Number Patterns for Year 2
- Number Patterns for Year 3
- Number Patterns for Year 4
- Number Patterns for Year 5
- Number Patterns for Year 6
- Number Patterns for Year 7