Year 2: Patterns and sequences

Method. Find the part that repeats, then carry the pattern on.

1. Find the part that repeats. The pattern repeats: star, ball.
   star ball ...
2. Count the objects you can see. There are 4 objects, so the next one is number 5.
   next: number 5
3. Carry the repeat on. Number 5 is the 1st object in the repeat.
   star

Check. The last 2 objects match the repeat, so the next object is a star. ✓

Watch out. Find the whole part that repeats before you say what comes next.

Method. Find the part that repeats, then carry the pattern on.

1. Find the part that repeats. The pattern repeats: cube, car.
   cube car ...
2. Count the objects you can see. There are 5 objects, so the next one is number 6.
   next: number 6
3. Carry the repeat on. Number 6 is the 2nd object in the repeat.
   car

Check. The last 2 objects match the repeat, so the next object is a car. ✓

Watch out. Find the whole part that repeats before you say what comes next.

Method. Find the part that repeats, then carry the pattern on.

1. Find the part that repeats. The pattern repeats: star, ball, cube.
   star ball cube ...
2. Count the objects you can see. There are 7 objects, so the next one is number 8.
   next: number 8
3. Carry the repeat on. Number 8 is the 2nd object in the repeat.
   ball

Check. The last 3 objects match the repeat, so the next object is a ball. ✓

Watch out. Find the whole part that repeats before you say what comes next.

Method. Look at the objects on each side of the gap. Then carry the repeat into it.

1. Look before the gap. The object before the gap is a star.
   before: star
2. Look after the gap. The object after the gap is a cube.
   after: cube
3. Carry the repeat into the gap. The repeat is star, ball, cube, so the gap holds a ball.
   ball

Check. Put a ball in the gap and the pattern carries on the same way. ✓

Watch out. Use the repeat to choose the missing object, not only the one next to the gap.

Method. Count along the pattern, one object at a time.

1. Number the objects in order. Each object gets one number as you count.
   1 car, 2 bus, 3 car, 4 bus, 5 car, 6 bus
2. Find number 6. Number 6 is the 2nd object in the repeat.
   6: bus
3. Write the answer.
   bus

Check. The repeat is car, bus, so number 6 is a bus. ✓

Watch out. Count from the first object. The repeat starts again after each full set.

Method. Count along the pattern, one object at a time.

1. Number the objects in order. Each object gets one number as you count.
   1 star, 2 ball, 3 cube, 4 star, 5 ball, 6 cube, 7 star, 8 ball, 9 cube, 10 star
2. Find number 10. Number 10 is the 1st object in the repeat.
   10: star
3. Write the answer.
   star

Check. The repeat is star, ball, cube, so number 10 is a star. ✓

Watch out. Count from the first object. The repeat starts again after each full set.

Method. Find how many more each row has than the row before.

1. Compare two rows next to each other. Each row has 1 more than the row before.
   2 - 1 = 1
2. Add the same step to the last row. The next row keeps the same step.
   4 + 1 = 5
3. Write the answer.
   5

Check. The rows so far have 1, 2, 3, 4 objects. The next row has 5. ✓

Watch out. Look at the step from one row to the next, not at how many rows there are.

Method. Find how many more each row has than the row before.

1. Compare two rows next to each other. Each row has 2 more than the row before.
   4 - 2 = 2
2. Add the same step to the last row. The next row keeps the same step.
   6 + 2 = 8
3. Write the answer.
   8

Check. The rows so far have 2, 4, 6 objects. The next row has 8. ✓

Watch out. Look at the step from one row to the next, not at how many rows there are.

Method. Check each object against the repeat, one place at a time.

1. Write the repeat. The pattern repeats: apple, pear.
   1 apple, 2 pear, 3 apple, 4 pear, 5 apple, 6 cube, 7 apple
2. Check each place. Place 6 should be a pear, but it is a cube.
   place 6: cube, should be pear
3. Write the place number. That place breaks the pattern.
   6

Check. All the other places match the repeat. ✓

Watch out. The object that breaks the pattern does not match the repeat. Check every place.

Method. Count the stars in the first 10 objects, one at a time.

1. Write the first objects in order. Count from the first object.
   1 star, 2 ball, 3 ball, 4 star, 5 ball, 6 ball, 7 star, 8 ball, 9 ball, 10 star
2. Find the stars. The stars are in places 1, 4, 7, 10.
   places 1, 4, 7, 10
3. Count them. There are 4 stars.
   4

Check. The repeat is star, ball, ball, so each part has 1 star(s). ✓

Watch out. Count the places you listed. Do not count the other objects.

Method. Find object number 10 in the repeat, then compare it with what is said.

1. Find number 10. Number 10 in the pattern is a star.
   10: star
2. Compare with what is said. The claim says it is a cube.
   star does not match cube
3. Decide. Is the claim right?
   No

Check. Count the repeat again from the start to check number 10. ✓

Watch out. Count the repeat from the start, then find the place you need.