Properties of shape - Make patterns with 2D shapes - Presentation

In the Properties of Shape series, Lesson 9 introduces students to the concept of creating and recognising patterns using 2D shapes. The lesson prompts children to define what a pattern is and engages them in discussions to deepen their understanding. Students are tasked with continuing given patterns, identifying the repeating set of shapes, and predicting the next shape in the sequence. For example, they may be asked to determine what the ninth shape would be in a particular pattern or to circle the repeating set. This exercise not only reinforces their knowledge of shapes but also helps them grasp the concept of repeating patterns and sequence prediction.

The students then move on to more complex activities that challenge their reasoning skills. They are encouraged to draw pictures to represent given patterns, such as 'Square, circle, triangle, triangle', and to continue these patterns by predicting subsequent shapes. Additionally, they explore how to create their own repeating patterns using a single shape and compare different patterns to identify similarities and differences. The lesson also includes reasoning exercises where students must verify the accuracy of a pattern, as in the case of Esin's prediction that the twelfth shape will be a circle, and explore various ways to arrange shapes to form repeating patterns. The lesson culminates with independent work where students continue patterns and draw representations, further solidifying their understanding of 2D shape patterns.