Building Early Maths Thinking Through Repeating Patterns

Patterns are one of the very first ways Foundation students make sense of maths. When children learn to recognise, copy and describe repeating patterns, they’re building key skills like noticing similarities, predicting what comes next and explaining their thinking. These early experiences help lay the foundation for later learning in number, algebra and problem-solving.

Hands-on learning is especially powerful at this stage. Giving students plenty of opportunities to make, break and talk about repeat patterns using concrete materials allows them to explore ideas in a meaningful way. By touching, moving, and arranging objects, such as pony beads, students develop a deeper understanding of how patterns work, which helps them identify and describe the pattern.

Hands-On Repeating Patterns with Pony Beads

Our Repeating Patterns Task Cards use bright pony bead visuals to help students explore repeating patterns in a concrete, engaging way. By working with clear visuals and hands-on materials, students begin to notice, copy and describe patterns that repeat, building confidence and early algebraic thinking. The cards are ideal for whole-class lessons, small groups, or independent maths rotations.

Differentiation is built right in. For students who need extra support, simply invite them to copy the repeating pattern they see using a pipe cleaner and their own set of pony beads. As confidence grows, students can move on to identifying and describing patterns that repeat using colour language, such as red, blue, blue, red, blue, blue.

For an added challenge, students are encouraged to represent the same repeating pattern using letters, for example, ABB. The task cards can be laminated so students can record their answers directly on the cards using a whiteboard marker, or they can use the included recording sheet to show their thinking. An answer key is also provided for quick and easy checking.

Download, Then Repeat!

This resource is available in two formats to suit your classroom needs. Download the editable Google Slides version if you’d like to customise, display or adapt the activity for your students, or choose the easy-to-print PDF version for quick prep and hands-on use.

Simply use the dropdown arrow on the download button to select the format that works best for you and your students, allowing you to spend less time setting up and more time exploring patterns with your students.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher and Teach Starter Collaborator.

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