Number Patterns Teaching Resources
Explore number patterns in your math classes this school year with fun worksheets, number sequence games and more teacher resources created to help your students understand how numbers in a sequence relate to one another.
Aligned with both TEKS and Common Core math standards, the printable and digital activities in this collection were created by the math 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 students' algebraic reasoning skills. They help students 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 math 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 Sorting Activity
Identify and sort 2- and 3-digit numbers into odd and even categories.
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Counting Mixed Coins Differentiated Worksheets
Download differentiated printable worksheets and use skip counting and addition skills to determine the value of each coin collection.
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Find the Pattern Worksheet
A worksheet for younger students to work on recognizing patterns.
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Prime and Composite Number Sort
Identify prime and composite numbers by sorting 30 number cards into their proper category.
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Ada Lovelace - Cut and Paste Shapes and Patterns Activity
Explore shapes and patterns with the female programmer, Ada Lovelace, with this cut-and-paste activity for young students.
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Identifying Number Patterns and their Rules - PowerPoint
A 14-slide editable PowerPoint to use in the classroom when introducing number patterns and rules.
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Number Sequencing to 100 - Worksheet
A raindrop themed place value worksheet to use when sequencing numbers to 100.
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Find and Color: Prime and Composite Numbers Worksheet
Encourage your students to identify prime and composite numbers up to 100 with this free find and color worksheet.
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Number Pattern Task Cards – Addition and Subtraction
Practice identifying the rules of patterns, determining missing numbers, and interpreting word problems with this set of 36 task cards.
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Find the Missing Value – Division Worksheet
Strengthen understanding of inverse operations by finding the missing value of each division equation.
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Number Talks - Number Pairs Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 26 task cards.
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What's Missing? - Ten More, Ten Less Task Cards
Find numbers ten more or ten less than a given two- or three-digit number with this set of 20 task cards.
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Pattern Activity Cards - Sports
A set of 12 repeating pattern activity cards.
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Number Sequencing to 1,000 - Worksheet
A place value worksheet to use when sequencing numbers from 100 to 1,000.
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Blank Hundreds Chart Template
A blank black and white hundreds board that can be used for a variety of activities.
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Roll to 100 Odd and Even Game
Create a fun math station with this roll to 100 game where students show their knowledge of odd and even numbers up to 100.
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Odd or Even Cut and Paste Worksheets
Review odd and even numbers with this set of two cut and paste worksheets.
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2nd Grade 'I Spy' Odd and Even Number Worksheet
Practice determining odd and even numbers of objects with this fun scavenger hunt worksheet.
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10 More, 10 Less - Differentiated Mazes
Delight your students with this maze challenge, to practice calculating 10 more or 10 less than a value within 120.
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Prime Factorization Match-Up
Practice how to find the prime factorization of a number with this match-up activity.
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Prime & Composite Numbers – Task Cards
Demonstrate an understanding of prime and composite numbers with this set of 24 task cards.
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Identifying Prime & Composite Numbers – Worksheet
Use understanding of factors to identify composite and prime numbers with this worksheet.
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Prime and Composite Numbers Worksheet
A worksheet to practice the relationship between factors and prime and composite numbers.
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Equation Match-Up!
Match word problems, equations, and visual models with this match-up activity.
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1 to 9 Number Sequencing Activity - Dog Template
A fun dog-themed number sequencing activity.
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Fall Math Center - Odd and Even Number Sort
Identify and sort 2- and 3-digit numbers into odd and even categories with a Fall math activity.
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Counting by 10's Maze
Find the fun and learn to skip count by 10s up to 100 with this engaging maze activity!
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One More, One Less Board Game
Practice identifying one more and one less up to 6 with this board game.
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Missing Numbers – Task Cards
Practice counting by 1s forward and backward by completing number sequences with this set of 12 task cards.
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Roll to Create a Strip Diagram
A roll to create template for students to use when learning to use strip diagrams.
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Square and Triangular Numbers Poster
A poster to help students learn the vocabulary associated with square and triangular numbers.
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Factor Trees Worksheet Set
Print a free factor trees worksheet set for 5th or 6th graders to practice prime factorization.
- Number Patterns Worksheets
- Number Patterns Games
- Number Patterns Posters
- Number Patterns Templates
- Number Patterns for Pre-K
- Number Patterns for Kindergarten
- Number Patterns for 1st Grade
- Number Patterns for 2nd Grade
- Number Patterns for 3rd Grade
- Number Patterns for 4th Grade
- Number Patterns for 5th Grade
- Number Patterns for 6th Grade