Universal Concept #4: Patterns
A pattern is something that repeats or changes in a predictable way. When you find the rule behind a pattern, you have a superpower: you can predict what comes next!
🔁 Repeating
A "core" repeats over and over.
📈 Growing
Each step gets bigger (or smaller) by a rule.
🦋 Symmetry
One side mirrors the other.
🔄 Cycles
Events happen in the same order, again and again.
🔁 Big ideas about patterns
- Patterns are everywhere.
- Patterns help us predict.
- Patterns can be natural or made by people.
- Patterns can repeat, grow, or change.
Core GATE Question: How do patterns help us predict what comes next?
🔒 Earn all 6 badges to unlock the Guess My Rule Machine and the Pattern Lens challenge!
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The Pattern Machine
What comes next? Find the core, then feed the machine!
The core of a repeating pattern is the smallest part that repeats. In 🔴🔵🔴🔵, the core is 🔴🔵. Find the core, and you can predict ANY spot in the pattern!
Number Patterns
Crack the rule. Predict the next number!
🔮 What comes next?
Look at how each number changes. Type the next number.
💯 Hundred Chart Explorer
Skip-count on the hundred chart. Different numbers make different shapes! Try at least 4.
Pick a number to skip-count by.
✅ Chart check
Beat Patterns
Music is made of patterns you can HEAR.
The first beats of each song are already filled in. Figure out the core, then finish the pattern by tapping the empty squares. Press ▶ Play to hear it!
🎛️ Beat Lab
Make your OWN beat pattern. Can a partner find your core?
Nature's Patterns
Nobody painted these. Nature made them!
🗂️ Sort the patterns
Which kind of pattern does each one show?
🔬 Why does nature make patterns?
Six-sided cells fit together with NO gaps, so bees can store the most honey using the least wax.
Water freezes into six-sided crystals because of the shape of its tiny molecules. That's why snowflakes have six arms!
Sunflower seeds grow in spirals, and the number of spirals is often a Fibonacci number, like 34 or 55!
Stripes help tigers blend into tall grass and shadows, so they can sneak up on prey.
No two zebras have the same stripes! Scientists have found that stripes help keep biting flies away.
Trees, rivers, lightning, and even your lungs branch out to reach lots of space.
✅ Nature check
Symmetry Studio
Paint one side. The mirror paints the other!
🪞 Mirror
🎨 Color
Try making a butterfly, a robot face, or a snowflake!
✅ Symmetry check
Cycles
Patterns that go around and around, forever.
🌙 The Moon's cycle
The Moon seems to change shape in the same order every month. Starting with the New Moon at the top, tap the phases in order to go around the circle.
🦋 A butterfly's life cycle
Put the life cycle in order. Then it starts all over again!
🔮 Use the pattern to predict!
Locked!
Earn all 6 badges to unlock the Guess My Rule Machine.
The Guess My Rule Machine
Put a number in. A different number comes out. What's the secret rule?
🔍 The Pattern Lens
Pick a big idea about patterns. Then prove it with evidence!