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Singapore Primary Maths

Primary 2 maths · Geometry · About 8 minutes

Continue patterns using size, shape, colour and orientation

Say the repeating group aloud.

Start the interactive lesson →Open practice activity

What you will learn

Models used: number sentences, stories, diagrams.

Before you start

Find the group of shapes that repeats

A pattern goes circle, triangle, triangle, then repeats. What comes after the second circle?

  1. Look for the shortest group that repeats in the same order: one circle followed by two triangles.

    Circle, triangle, triangle repeats.

  2. Start a new copy of that group at the second circle. It must be followed by a triangle, then another triangle.

    Keep the order inside each repeated group.

  3. A pattern may repeat colour, size or direction as well as shape. Name what changes and what repeats before choosing the next item.

    The completed pattern follows the same rule.
What did the picture help us see?

A pattern may repeat colour, size or direction as well as shape. Name what changes and what repeats before choosing the next item.

Worked example: A new example, together

Continue the repeating pattern: small circle, large circle, small circle, large circle, …

Look for the repeated unit and the changing attribute.

  1. Say the repeating group aloud.

    The complete repeating unit determines what follows.

    Look for the repeated unit and the changing attribute.

  2. The repeating unit has two parts: small circle, large circle.

    Look for the repeated unit and the changing attribute.
    Continue the repeating pattern: small circle, large circle, small circle, large circle, …

    small circle

  3. After large circle, the unit starts again.

    Look for the repeated unit and the changing attribute.

  4. Next is small circle.

    Look for the repeated unit and the changing attribute.

  5. Check the result against the question we started with.

    The first and third entries match; the second and fourth match.

    We found small circle. The complete repeating unit determines what follows.

    Look for the repeated unit and the changing attribute.

Common mistakes to discuss

Check your understanding

Explain your reasoning to an adult, then try a fresh question in the interactive lesson. A result from one attempt is not proof of lasting mastery.

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