Patterns exist all around us. Getting kids to see them is a great way to work on that logic thinking that we are always striving to instill. Here are a few that you might want to try:
Some Easy Number Patterns
All of the times tables use patterns, but there are some other easy ones you can use or make up to get your students to start to look for the pattern. Here are a few:
2, 4, 6, 8, 10 - what's the pattern? (Counting by 2's or the 2 times table)
1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 64 - what's the pattern? (Doubling each number)
1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, 22 - what's the pattern? (Adding one more each time: 1+1=2, 2+2=4, 4+3=7, 7+4=11)
You can think up others - any pattern can do as long as it is consistent and the students can figure it out.
Fibonacci Numbers
Way back in the 12th century, Leonardo Fibonacci discovered an interesting sequence of numbers. The sequence begins like this: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8...can you see the pattern? The Fibonacci sequence results from adding the previous two numbers to get the next number, like this:
1+1=2
1+2=3
2+3=5
3+5=8
5+8=13
8+13=21 and so on
Challenge your students to find the largest Fibonacci number they can. A calculator is a good tool to use as the numbers get larger. (Actually, largest one that mathematicians have found is hundreds of digits long - and the possibilities are infinite.)
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