AB Patterns on Paper
Letter names like A and B make patterns easy to write. A-B-A-B on paper is the same idea as clap-stamp-clap-stamp.
- Label a two-part pattern as AB
- Extend an AB pattern across a row of boxes
- Read someone else's AB pattern and continue it
Finish first
Topic contents
Lesson 1 of 3
Two letters, one pattern
Pick two shapes or colors. Call the first one A and the second one B. A-B-A-B is an AB pattern because only two parts alternate.
Draw a row of empty boxes. Fill them A-B-A-B-A-B. Each letter stands for a real thing, like a red square for A and a blue circle for B.
AB patterns are everywhere: sock-shoe-sock-shoe, left-right-left-right. The letters are shortcuts for the real items.
Lesson 2 of 3
Continue the row
If a friend stops at A-B-A-B-A, you know B comes next because B always follows A in an AB pattern.
Use a ruler to keep boxes the same size. Neat boxes make it easier to see when a letter is out of place.
Try swapping which item is A and which is B. The pattern still alternates; only the labels changed.
Lesson 3 of 3
Read and fix
When you read A-B-A-A-B, something is wrong. Two As sat together, so the AB rule broke.
Circle the box where the mistake starts. Rewrite the letter that should be there. Checking each pair A-B helps.
Next you will look at growing patterns where each step gets bigger instead of just repeating.
Practice
Work these out yourself
No answer key here on purpose: these are the questions worth thinking through before you move on. Open one and work it out.
0/3 attemptedAssessment
Check your understanding
Answer each question, then read the explanation. That is where the learning is.
Finished this topic?
0 of 3 lessons marked done. Marking the topic complete ticks the rest.