Math lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 30 minutes
Find the missing piece of a pattern
Algebra
England: Reception ShapeEngland: Y1 Geometry
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Find the missing piece of a pattern.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: What comes next? AB patterns
Leads to: Growing patterns: the same amount added each step
Materials: Balance scales or a balance drawing, Algebra tiles, Function machine cards, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (What comes next? AB patterns). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- What comes next? ▲ ★ ▲ ★ ▲ ★ ▲ ? (▲ / ★ / ■) → ★Prompt: Say the pattern out loud.
- A bead necklace goes: blue, red, blue, red, … What colour comes next? (blue / red) → bluePrompt: The colours take turns.
- What comes next? ▲ ♥ ▲ ♥ ▲ ♥ ? (▲ / ♥ / ■) → ▲Prompt: Say the pattern out loud.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a "think of a number" puzzle and ask the class to work out the starting number.
- Share the objective: Find the missing piece of a pattern. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Which shape is missing? ★ ◆ ▲ ★ ◆ ▲ ★ ? ▲
- Step 1: ★ ◆ ▲ ★ ◆ ▲ ★ ◆ ▲
- Step 2: ◆
- Answer: ◆
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Which shape is missing? ◆ ● ● ◆ ? ● ◆ ● ● (◆ / ● / ■) → ●Prompt: Find the part that repeats.
- Which shape is missing? ◆ ♥ ♥ ◆ ♥ ? ◆ ♥ ♥ (◆ / ♥ / ★) → ♥Prompt: Find the part that repeats.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which shape is missing? ■ ■ ♥ ■ ? ♥ ■ ■ ♥ (■ / ♥ / ★) → ■Prompt: Find the part that repeats.
- Which shape is missing? ■ ■ ▲ ■ ■ ▲ ? ■ ▲ (■ / ▲ / ♥) → ■Prompt: Find the part that repeats.
Watch out for
- Doing an operation to one side of an equation but not the other.
- Reading 3x as 3 + x, or thinking x always stands for one particular number.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: What comes next? AB patterns.
- Use concrete materials: balance scales or a balance drawing.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Growing patterns: the same amount added each step.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/kindergarten.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder