Teaching early childhood students
about patterns
When teaching early childhood students about patterns, remember that to begin with they have no concept of what you want them to do. When asked to make a pattern, they may produce a random design like the illustration on the right, and say this is my pattern.
Copy patterns
To help children make sense of the idea of repeating patterns, call them "copy" patterns to begin with as most children have an understanding of this word.
Use a long strip of white card (about 18 inches) and attach it to the table with tape, as little children shift it accidentall and knock the blocks off. Put a green dot on one end to signify, start here, and a red dot on the other end to show the child when to stop the pattern. 
Demonstrate a simple two color pattern first. As you place the blocks down say, "Yellow, orange, now we are going to copy or repeat, yellow, orange..." Continue until the whole tape is filled with yellow and orange blocks.
Then ask the child to copy your pattern with the same color blocks.
Have the children pick the next two colors and make the same ABAB two color pattern. When teaching preschool students, remember that some will need to repeat the process over and over before they understand that the two colors are to be repeated.
When purchasing pattern blocks for teaching young students make sure you buy enough so that all children in the group have plenty to share. Having lots of blocks seems to stop the tendency for children to grab or horde the blocks! Buy blocks through Amazon at the link below.
Purchase plastic
pattern blocks
Math table of contents:
Teaching kindergarten & preschool math - how to teach kindergarten and preschool math concepts, sample step-by-step teach measurement, activities and games
Teaching with math manipulatives - how to teach with math manipulatives to help children understand math concepts
Ten steps to teaching with math manipulatives
Best math manipulatives - choose materials that are useful for more than one math concept
Teaching math vocabulary - learn how to teach math vocabulary
Attribute blocks - how to use these math manipulatives for different features: shape, color, size and thickness to help promote logical thinking
Graphing 1 - how to teach graphing to preschool and kindergarten children, includes collecting data and organizing it in a variety of ways
Graphing 2 - more graphing ideas for young children
Measurement - how to find measurement to young children, find opportunities for students to order objects by size, color, shape...
Number Activities - how to provide experiences that build number sense
Number Games - how to improve children's number sense with easy games
Number Skills - what number skills do children need to know?
Pattern 1- how to teach children pattern concepts
Pattern 2 - ideas and games to teach children to recognize, create, copy and extend patterns
Pattern 3 - teach patterning skills to early childhood and preschool students
Sorting and classifying- how to teach children the important skills of sorting, comparing and classifying objects
Symmetry - teach symmetry with games and activities
Classification games to reinforce math vocabulary
Math & Literature Connections - how to combine math and literature, learn how to promote math skills as you share good literature
Ten Apples Up on Top - open-ended math activity with Dr. Suess
10 Little Rubber Ducks - ideas to promote math with this wonderful Eric Carle story
1, 2, 3 to the Zoo - another great Eric Carle book, practice counting, making number sets, ordinal numbers and more
Teach money 1 - skills & activities
Teach money 2 - with games
Teach money 3 - with fundraising projects
