A pattern repeats the same part again and again. Say the pattern out loud to find the part that repeats, then say what comes next.
The steps, on one like it
The dots go red, grey, red, grey, red, grey. What colour comes next?
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Say the colours out loud: red, grey, red, grey.
Hearing the colours helps you notice what repeats.
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Find the part that repeats: red, then grey.
A pattern uses the same part again and again.
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The last dot is grey, so start the part again.
After grey, the repeating part begins with red.
Answer: red
The mistake people often make
Saying the last colour again, so grey comes after grey.
Say the whole pattern from the start, then keep going for one more dot.
Clap and stamp
Make the pattern with your body. Clap for red and stamp for grey: clap, stamp, clap, stamp. Keep going and you can feel what comes next. Try it with things from the kitchen too. Line up a spoon, a cup, a spoon, a cup, and say what you need to put down next.
Words to know
- repeat
- happen again in the same way