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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Even or Odd Kaboom Game
Practise odd and even identification with an exciting game of Kaboom!
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Odd or Even Tic-Tac-Toe Game
Practise identifying odd and even in simple numbers and sums with this fun Tic-Tac-Toe game
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Odd and Even Task Cards
Help your students consolidate their knowledge of odd and even numbers with this set of task cards.
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Odd and Even Properties Interactive Activity
Engage students in odd and even numbers with this interactive activity.
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Odd or Even Under 20 Cut and Paste Worksheets
Review odd and even numbers with this set of two cut and paste worksheets.
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Odd and Even Properties Investigation
Explore odd and even number properties with this fun chef inspired investigation project.
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Addition and Subtraction Rules for Odd and Even Numbers Matching Activity
A matching game to play when learning addition and subtraction rules for odd and even numbers.
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Odd or Even Number Popcorn Sorting Activity
Sort popcorn shaped numbers into either the odd popcorn bucket or the even popcorn bucket.
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Counting Odd and Even Numbers Worksheet Pack
Identify odd and even numbers in a variety of activities in these odd and even worksheets.
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Odd and Even Interactive Task Cards
Practise determining if a number is odd or even with this space-themed interactive activity.
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Odds and Evens Animal Racing Game
Play this fun animal racing came to quickly practise odd and even number recall.
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Odd and Even Numbers Four in a Row Game
Practise knowledge of odd and even numbers by playing a fun game of four in a row..
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Sorting Odd and Even House Numbers Cut and Paste Worksheet
Practise sorting odd and even numbers with this set of cut and paste worksheets.
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Odd and Even Monsters Sorting Activity
Sort odd and even numbers in this fun monster-themed sorting activity.
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Odd and Even Concertina Template
Create an odd and even number concertina to use as a tool during maths lessons on odd and even numbers.
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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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100 More , 100 Less Matching Game (Three-Digit Numbers)
Match 3-digit number cards to find pairs that are 100 more or 100 less of each other.
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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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Graphing Numerical Equations – Google Slides Interactive Activity
Recognise and analyse patterns in graphs, input-output tables and equations with this interactive activity.
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Input-Output Tables and Graphing Task Cards
Practise reading input-output tables and plotting points in the first quadrant with this set of task cards.
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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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Exponential Expressions – Match-Up Activity
Match numerical expressions with exponents to their expanded expressions and solutions with this 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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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.
- 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