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Lesson 3 - Extending Patterns

To encourage students to have fun on the Web while learning about Extending Patterns, here are some games and interactive activities they can do on their own or in pairs.

Goals

Identify and extend growing patterns.

Create and predict elements of growing patterns.

Instructions for Use

Pattern Blocks lets students create patterns with blocks and extend the growing patterns.

To use Pattern Blocks, click on a shape and drag it onto the workspace. Select a shape by clicking on it. Once selected, the shape can be moved to any location on the workspace. Click on the other tools on the top panel to select and drag, rotate, find more information about the shape, or to clear the workspace. To remove a shape, drag it to the recycling bin.

Creating Patterns helps students create, compare, describe, and view patterns as they grow.

To use Creating Patterns, click the 'Arrow Up' or 'Arrow Down' buttons at the top right to adjust the number of squares to be included in the pattern. To colour a square, click on a square displayed in the rectangle in the upper left and then click on a colour button. Click on the 'Arrow Up' or 'Arrow Down' buttons in the lower right to adjust the speed of the displayed pattern. Click the 'Play' button to repeat the unit of squares shown in the upper left box until the grid is filled in. Click the 'Step' button to add one unit to the pattern shown in the grid. Click the 'Pause' button to pause the program. Click the 'Stop' button to stop or erase the program.