PATTERNS HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE!


by Alice Hanlin & Brian Amundrud




CELs
1994
P105.14




Foundational Objective


The student should demonstrate an understanding of numbers, patterns, counting, and operations.



Learning Objectives




Day 1


Strand: Data Management and Analysis
The students should be able to acquire data through collecting and counting. The student should be able to design classifications and sort data using objects and display data using object graphs. The student should be able to discuss and interpret by examining the shape and questioning.

Strand: Numbers and Operations
The student should be able to identify one or more characteristics, to demonstrate and explain classification by different properties and different ways, and to explain their order by using attributes.



Day 2


Strand: Problem Solving
The student should be able to demonstrate an understanding of a problem by using manipulatives. The student should be able to design a plan and solve problems by using manipulatives, using counting strategies, and using patterns. The student should be able to reflect by explaining.



Day 3 & 4


Strand: Problem Solving
The student should be able to design a plan to solve problems using manipulatives, counting strategies, collecting, organizing and interpreting data, and using patterns. The student should be able to properly display the results.



Day 5


Strand: Numbers and Operations
The student should be able to recognize that adding one quantity to another increases the total and subtracting one quantity from another decreases the total. The student should be able to recognize, demonstrate, and explain the patterning of numbers, objects and events.



Day 6


Review



Day 7


Strand: Numbers and Operations
The student should be able to demonstrate and explain the ordering of events and compare sets using more, less, and equal.



Day 8


Strand: Problem Solving
The student should be able to create a problem giving specific information orally.



Day 9

Strand: Geometry
The student should be able to cover a surface using one or more shapes. The student should be able to discover the symmetry of their pattern.



Day 10


Review



Activities

Day 1


Take the class on a nature walk. The students will collect objects (pebbles, leaves, pinecones, rocks, feathers, grass, seeds, etc.) found along the way and bring them back to the classroom.

Sort and classify them on a floor graph (object graph). Discuss the similarities and differences within each group.

Order the sorted groups according to attributes (size, shape, color, etc.).

Compare the number of objects in each group as a counting activity.

Re-classify the groups into living and non-living objects.

Groups of two to four students move the objects into a patterned form around the classroom.

e.g. rock, leaf, stick, rock, leaf, stick
Be sure to assign a specific area of the classroom for each group to make their pattern.

Day 2


Brainstorm about what the word "collection" means to the students.
Encourage the students to bring any collections from home for "Show and Tell" that could remain at the school for several days. There will be collectionsand manipulatives available at school for the children who may be unable to bring a collection from their home.
The students will "Show and Tell" their collections. They will sort their own collections and then share their ideas with the rest of the class

Day 3


The students will make a patterned display by combining their collection with another student's collection.
The teacher would give direct instructions by comparing and contrasting patterns that the students have discovered. The teacher would explain the linear patterns that have been discovered.


Such As:



Relate these items to an ABAB pattern or ABB pattern.
Have the children change their pattern to discover a new pattern and read it to the class.

button, button, card, card or button, card, button

Relate these items to a BBAA or BAB pattern.
Give the students a long strip of paper to record their pattern with pictures and letters. Display on the bulletin board or the blackboard.

Day 4


The entire class will be using the same manipulatives (e.g. popsicle sticks, twist ties, or any other item that is straight). The students will build a fence pattern under the direction of the teacher.


i) picket fence (AAAA)


ii) fence post with one wire (ABABA)


iii) fence post with three wires (ABABA)


iv) fence posts and diagonals (ABABA)


v) fence posts with opposite diagonals (ABACA)


vi) fence posts with low and high wires (ABACA)


vii) fence posts with criss-cross wires (ABA)


viii) more than one fence post with any of the above (AABAABAA)



All of the above examples should be translated to the AB pattern.

Follow-up:
Distribute strips of paper with letter patterns. Invite the students to make the illustrations that would go with the letter patterns.

Day 5: Station Work


Station 1
Build with manipulatives using the number patterns.



(On laminated cards, the teacher will have the number patterns printed on the template.) A variety of number patterns and manipulatives will be available.


Station 2
A review station will be set up with the popsicle activities from Day 4.

Station 3
A review station of the students' collections will be set up for the students to investigate.

Station 4
This will be a computer station with the patterns program being in use.

Station 5
This station will be attended by the teacher. There would be increasing and decreasing patterns at this station. This would lead into addition and subtraction.
The students would be given the opportunity to use the manipulatives to make ascending and descending patterns.



Day 6


Art work follow-up:
The students would use gummed stickers, toothpicks or macaroni (or any other available material) to make their favorite pattern. The students should label their pattern. AB



Day 7


A language arts activity would be suggested.
Read :
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
OR
There were Ten in the Bed by Pam Adams.


Highlight to review the ascending and descending patterns that were studied previously.
Role play the story in the classroom. This could be extended by counting the number of ears that would be decreased every time a student is eliminated.

Follow-up:
The students will use linking cubes or blocks (or other manipulatives) to create an object graph which illustrates the descending pattern of the story.



Day 8



Game: What's My Pattern?
The students will be working in pairs using attribute blocks, pattern blocks or other manipulatives.

Create a visual barrier between the students' work areas. Student "A" will build a pattern. Student "A" will verbally give the directions to Student "B" about how Student "B" can build the same pattern with the verbal directions only. Then the students will remove the barrier and compare their patterns.

Give ample class time for both students to play both roles in this game.
Bring all of the students together to clarify the required vocabulary to make this activity easier.

Allow time for the students to try the game again to improve their accuracy in listening and speaking.

Extension:



Day 9


The materials required for the lesson will be pattern blocks and mirrors.

The children will make a linear pattern using the pattern blocks. They will use a mirror to reflect the symmetry of their pattern. The mirror will be taken away and the students will try to match their pattern with what they saw in the mirror.

An extension of this activity would be to have the students make a wallpaper pattern (or a floor tile pattern) with the pattern blocks .

A follow-up art activity would be for the students to use triangular grid paper to illustrate their pattern or to use gummed paper pattern block stickers to produce a pattern.


Day 10


For the culmination of this unit, one suggestion would be at Thanksgiving time to plan and design table decorations for their Thanksgiving dinner table. (placemats, place cards, napkin holders)





Assessment Techniques




Anecdotal Records

Observation Checklists

Assessment Stations

Self and Peer Assessments







Integration of Patterns Across the Curriculum


Suggestions



Science



Health



Physical Education



Social Studies


Language Arts



Arts Education







Suggested Materials

Large floor graph (may be purchased or teacher made)


Collectibles:

Purchased items:






Bibliography




Kelly, Brendan and Ricki Wortzman. MATHQUEST Program Manual, Addison-Wesley Publishers Limtied, 1986.

Coombs, Betty, et al. Explorations 1, Explorations 2, Addison-Wesley, 1987. ISBN 0-201-19222-5

Kelleher, Heather J. Mathworks Book B, Houghton Mifflin, 1992. ISBN 0395-42684-7

Irons, Calvin and James Burnett. Mathematics from Many Cultures. Mimosa Publications, 1993. Canadian Distributor - Ginn Publishing Canada, Inc.

Smythe, Kelvin. Nature's Shapes and Patterns. Shortland Publications, 1993. Canadian Distributor - Ginn Publishing Canada, Inc.

Villalpando, Eleanor. Patterns - Visual Perception Activities. Remedia Publications, 1988.

Nagel, Barry. Pattern Block Activity Cards. Learning Resources from the Teacher Book Club, Greensboro, NC, 1986.

Link and Learn. Learning Resources from the Teacher Book Club, Greensboro, NC, 1985.

Hope, Jack and Marian Small. Interactions Big Book - Level K. Ginn Publishing Canada, Inc., 1994. ISBN 7702-2306-0

Hope, Jack and Marian Small. Interactions - Teacher Resource Binder - Level K Ginn Pubishing Canada, Inc., 1994. ISBN 0-7702-2305-2

Hope, Jack and Marian Small. Interactions - Teacher Resource Binder - Level 1. Ginn Publishing Canada, Inc., 1993. ISBN 0-7702-2339-7

Hope, Jack and Marian Small. Interactions - Teacher Resource Binder - Level 2. Ginn Publishing Canada, Inc., 1993. ISBN 0-7702-2326-5

Patterns. Apple II Computer program.






The following is an outline for an Observational Checklist .

Observation Checklist


Ability to Solve Problems





The following are criteria to consider when evaluating students

Problem Solving


Key:
F-Fair
G-Good
V-Very Good
E- Excellent

Do Students show awareness in the following catagories of Problem Solving development :


  1. Understanding
  2. Plan and Execute
  3. Reflecting
  4. Processes

This unit comes from the The Stewart Resources Centre which provides library resources and teacher-prepared materials for teachers in Saskatchewan. To borrow materials or obtain a free catalogue listing unit and lesson plans contact :
Stewart Resources Centre,
Sask. Teachers' Federation,
2317 Arlington Avenue,
Saskatoon, SK S7J 2H8;
phone 306-373-1660; fax 306-374-1122,
e-mail src@stf.sk.ca.
http://www.stf.sk.ca/

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