LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Additional related resources

We’re in the process of aligning our content for students to the Standard Course of Study. As we do, you’ll find it here.

General resources

Aligned lesson plans

Working with patterns
Students use their knowledge of patterns to discover the remaining members of an established pattern as set forth in the Shodor activity called "Pattern Generator." Permission has been granted for the use of the Shodor materials as part of the workshop- "Interactivate Your Bored Math Students" by Shodor Education Foundation, Inc.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Mathematics)
French fries up and down
The students will get hands-on practice working with patterns and translating them to numerical sequences. This lesson reaches visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners all at the same time.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Mathematics)
By Annie Nesbitt.
"Chips" ahoy!
This lesson will help children recognize, continue, and create number patterns, as well as find the rules for the patterns. The activities progress from concrete to semi-concrete to abstract.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Mathematics)
By Terri Downing.

Resources on the web

What's next?
In this lesson, the third of a nine-part unit from Illuminations titled “Powerful Patterns,” students make patterns, read patterns, and find patterns in the environment. They also extend a given pattern, identify missing elements in a pattern,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
What comes nex_?: A lesson in patterns and sorting
In this lesson, students participate in activities that deal with patterns and the importance of exploring data from multiple viewpoints. The teacher guides students through an activity at the beginning of the lesson in order to challenge them to think... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
Teaching shapes using read-alouds, visualization, and sketch to stretch
This ReadWriteThink lesson encourages strategic reading and real-world math connections using a variety of techniques. Students explore shape and pattern through an adapted sketch to stretch strategy and read-alouds of winter-themed books. In the final... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 English Language Arts and Mathematics)
Provided by: ReadWriteThink
Sorting time
In this lesson, the second of a nine-part unit from Illuminations titled “Powerful Patterns,” students sort objects and symbols and make patterns with sorted objects. They make Venn diagrams and use their sortings to make linear patterns. They... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
Sing and show patterns
This lesson, the sixth of an eight-part Illuminations unit titled “Calculating Patterns,” accommodates multiple learning styles by engaging students in creating patterns with movement and translating the patterns into other forms. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
Repeating and growing patterns
In this lesson, the fourth of a four-part Illuminations unit titled “Creating, Describing, and Analyzing Patterns,” students create and explore more complex patterns such as “growing patterns,” which have related but different relationships... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
Powerful patterns: Looking back and moving forward
This lesson is one of a 9-part unit from Illuminations titled “Powerful Patterns.” In this lesson students are provided with buttons or pasta and are asked to make a pattern that is then described to the class. Students then complete a table... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
Playing with patterns
In this lesson, the fourth of a nine-part unit from Illuminations titled “Powerful Patterns,” students use objects and symbols to make repeating linear patterns. They also extend patterns and translate patterns from one modality (auditory, visual,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
Multiple patterns
In this lesson, the sixth of a nine-part unit from Illuminations titled “Powerful Patterns,” students explore patterns that involve doubling. They use objects and numbers in their exploration and record them using a table. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
More patterns
In this lesson, the fifth of a nine-part unit from Illuminations titled “Powerful Patterns,” students extend their knowledge of linear patterns by making patterns on a grid using shapes and other symbols. An art activity is suggested as an extension. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics and Music Education)
Provided by: Illuminations
A matter of pattern
In this Science NetLinks lesson, students will concretely experiment with patterns by creating and predicting patterns formed when making paper snowflakes. Students will construct understanding that patterns may be predicted based on observation. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Science Netlinks
Many ways to create patterns
This lesson, the fourth of an eight-part Illuminations unit titled “Calculating Patterns,” accommodates multiple learning styles as students create patterns using different forms. For example, students use body movement or kinesthetic experiences... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
Making patterns: Two-square repeating patterns
In this lesson, the first of a four-part Illuminations unit titled “Creating, Describing, and Analyzing Patterns,” students create and analyze repeating patterns using pattern units of three, four, and five squares. They predict how patterns... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
Making patterns: Multiple-square repeating patterns
In this lesson, the second of a four-part Illuminations unit titled “Creating, Describing, and Analyzing Patterns,” students create and analyze repeating patterns using pattern units of three, four, and five squares. They predict how patterns... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
Making a record of pattern cores
This lesson, the third of an eight-part Illuminations unit titled “Calculating Patterns,” focuses on elements that constitute a pattern core or unit. Identifying the core element or unit that is repeated is a necessary early concept that students... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
Learning about number relationships and properties of numbers using calculators and hundred boards
Building on students' intuitive understandings of patterns and number relationships, teachers can further the development of number concepts and logical reasoning as described in the Number and Operations and Reasoning and Proof Standards. In this two-part... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations
Growing patterns
In this lesson, the eighth of a nine-part unit from Illuminations titled “Powerful Patterns,” students explore growing patterns. They analyze, describe, and justify their rules for naming patterns. Since students are likely to see growing patterns differently,... (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)
Provided by: Illuminations