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Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes

Generate a pattern from a rule and predict later terms

Algebra

CCSS 4.OA.C.5England: Y5 Number and place value

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Generate a pattern from a rule and predict later terms.

  • 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: Find the rule of a number pattern

Leads to: Compare two number patterns and their rules; Describe linear sequences with a rule for the nth term

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 (Find the rule of a number pattern). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What is the rule? 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, … (subtract 4 / add 4 / multiply by 4 / add 5) → add 4Prompt: Find the difference between neighbouring numbers.
  2. The rule is "add 7". One number is wrong: 4, 11, 18, 26, 32. What should it be? → 25Prompt: Check each jump: is it exactly 7?
  3. Look at the 5 times table: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, … Are all the answers odd, all even, or a mix? (all even / all odd / a mix) → a mixPrompt: Is 5 odd or even?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a "think of a number" puzzle and ask the class to work out the starting number.
  • Share the objective: Generate a pattern from a rule and predict later terms. 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: A pattern starts at 18 and the rule is "add 9". What is the 7th number in the pattern?
  • Step 1: 18 + 6 × 9 = 72
  • Answer: 72
  • 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.
  1. A pattern starts at 19 and the rule is "add 11". What is the 6th number in the pattern? → 74Prompt: From the 1st to the 6th number there are 5 jumps.
  2. Rule: start at 5, add 6. The pattern is 5, 11, 17, 23, 29, … Will the numbers always be odd, always even, or alternate? (always odd / always even / alternate) → always oddPrompt: The start is odd. What does adding an even number (6) do to an odd number?

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.
  1. Rule: start at 1, add 4. The pattern is 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, … Will the numbers always be odd, always even, or alternate? (always odd / always even / alternate) → always oddPrompt: The start is odd. What does adding an even number (4) do to an odd number?
  2. A pattern starts at 2 and the rule is "add 9". What is the 12th number in the pattern? → 101Prompt: From the 1st to the 12th number there are 11 jumps.

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: Find the rule of a number pattern.
  • 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: Compare two number patterns and their rules; Describe linear sequences with a rule for the nth term.
  • 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-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Generate a pattern from a rule and predict later terms

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    A pattern starts at 7 and adds 3 each time. Will 31 be in the pattern?

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  2. Question 2

    Rule: start at 3, add 6. The pattern is 3, 9, 15, 21, 27, … Will the numbers always be odd, always even, or alternate?

    • A. always odd
    • B. always even
    • C. alternate

  3. Question 3

    A pattern starts at 7 and the rule is "add 5". What is the 8th number in the pattern?

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    A pattern starts at 9 and adds 4 each time. Will 56 be in the pattern?

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  5. Question 5

    Rule: start at 7, add 4. The pattern is 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, … Will the numbers always be odd, always even, or alternate?

    • A. always odd
    • B. always even
    • C. alternate

  6. Question 6

    A pattern starts at 11 and the rule is "add 9". What is the 11th number in the pattern?

    Answer

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Answer key: Generate a pattern from a rule and predict later terms

  1. 1. A. yes

  2. 2. A. always odd

  3. 3. 42

  4. 4. B. no

  5. 5. A. always odd

  6. 6. 101