Finding rules and describing patterns Learning objective To solve a problem by finding a rule and describing the pattern.
Links to year 2 problem solving and reasoning pupil target sheet Finding rules and describing patterns I can work with others to describe the rule of the sequence involving numbers or shapes. I can work with others to test if the rule works for other predicted terms in the sequence. I can work with others to continue the sequence.
Teaching notes • When solving problems of this type, pupils need to look carefully to find a rule and begin to describe the pattern. • It is important to define the meaning of a ‘pattern’ or ‘sequence’ and a ‘term’. Establish that a pattern or sequence is an arrangement of numbers, lines or shapes that follow a rule. • When looking for rules and patterns, give pupils access to number lines, 100 squares and other concrete resources that may be useful in helping them spot the pattern. Example 1: Aunty Mae is knitting a scarf. She started on Saturday and knitted 7cm. She then knitted 10cm each day. On what day of the week was the scarf 67cm long? • Share the problem with the pupils. Ask: Can you explain what we have to do to solve this problem? – Establish that we need to work out on what day of the week the scarf was 67cm in length. • Represent the problem visually. – Hold a piece of string up and label it ‘Saturday – 7cm’. – Hold up another, much longer piece of string and label it ‘? – 67cm’. – Explain that we need to find out what day of the week the scarf is at the length of the longer piece of string. • Ask: – How long was the scarf on Saturday? – How many centimetres does Aunty Mae knit each day? – What will the length of the scarf be on Sunday? • Confirm that on Saturday the length of the scarf is 7cm and Aunty Mae will knit 10cm each day. Therefore, the scarf will be 10cm longer on Sunday than it was on Saturday: 7cm + 10cm = 17cm. • Model how to record this using a table. Day of the Sat week Total length 7cm of scarf
Sun 17cm
• Remind the pupils that since Aunty Mae knits 10cm each day, they need to add 10cm to the length of the previous day until they reach 67cm.
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