ABA, ABC, AABB, AAB, ABB
Patterning is a fundamental preschool activity. The creation of patterning is a fundamental lifelong math skill. Patterning falls under the category of Algebra. Children will be learning to understand patterns and relationships. The act of sorting and classifying is natural to the child brain. Lessons on patterning teach children how rules apply to sets. Patterning involves the following skills: making decisions, making judgements, understanding how new knowledge fits in with what is already known, and coping with things out of routine.
Summer has finally arrived in Michigan! A wonderful treat many children know about it ice cream. I created activities to introduce patterning to children using ice cream. Prior to our virtual circle time on https://zoom.us/, I asked the children to create a pattern with ice cream.
I included a PDF file for the children to use if they needed additional inspiration to create a pattern. I simply used PowerPoint and inserted triangles and circles to create the ice cream shape. I then used the print to PDF feature to save the file.
I began circle time with the book Splat the Cat I Scream for Ice Cream. Amazon offers this story for free on KindleUnlimited.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M70S97M/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
I then introduced the patterning activity. The children each shared their personal patterns and shared what colors they chose. Next, we played a patterning game. Children were presented with incomplete patterns and asked what should be next. I created the activity on PowerPoint with the same template I sent to the families. Instead of the circles being white, they were various colors.
Under the white circles are circles filled with red and blue. After creating the circles, choose the animation tab. Use an EXIT animation on the white circles that is triggered when clicked on. This will allow you to reveal the color underneath after the children guess what comes next.
We finished the circle time with Greg and Steve’s Freeze song. This song tied right in with the ice cream theme! I hope you have as much fun with this activity as we did during our virtual circle time!
Additional information regarding patterning can be found at the following sites: https://thekindergartenconnection.com/secrets-developing-sorting-patterning-skills/ https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/downloads/p_10/ey_lt_maths_understandings.pdf