Math lesson plan · 1st grade (Year 2 in England) · 30 minutes
Predict a later item in a repeating pattern
Algebra
England: Y1 GeometryEngland: Y2 Geometry
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Predict a later item in a repeating 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? AAB, ABB and ABC patterns
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
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? AAB, ABB and ABC patterns). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- What comes next? ★ ■ ● ★ ■ ● ★ ? (★ / ■ / ●) → ■Prompt: Find the part that repeats.
- Which part repeats in this pattern? ● ■ ♥ ● ■ ♥ ● ■ ♥ (● ■ ♥ / ● ■ / ■ ♥ ● / ♥ ■ ●) → ● ■ ♥Prompt: Start at the beginning. When does it start again?
- What comes next? ▲ ♥ ★ ▲ ♥ ★ ▲ ♥ ? (▲ / ♥ / ★) → ★Prompt: Find the part that repeats.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a "think of a number" puzzle and ask the class to work out the starting number.
- Share the objective: Predict a later item in a repeating 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: The pattern keeps going: ◆ ◆ ★ ◆ ◆ ★ … Which shape is number 11?
- Step 1: Positions 3, 6, 9, … end a repeat.
- 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.
- The pattern keeps going: ● ● ★ ● ● ★ … Which shape is number 13? (● / ★) → ●Prompt: The pattern repeats every 3 shapes.
- Children stand in a line wearing green, red, green, red, … What colour is child number 11 wearing? (green / red) → greenPrompt: Which positions are red: 2, 4, 6, …?
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.
- Children stand in a line wearing yellow, red, yellow, red, … What colour is child number 15 wearing? (yellow / red) → yellowPrompt: Which positions are red: 2, 4, 6, …?
- The pattern keeps going: ◆ ▲ ◆ ▲ … Which shape is number 9? (◆ / ▲) → ◆Prompt: The pattern repeats every 2 shapes.
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? AAB, ABB and ABC 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
- 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/grade-1.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder