If you know the part that repeats, you can tell what comes next. Look at the whole part, not only the last piece.
Key idea
Say the pattern out loud. Find where it starts over. Then the next piece is easy.
Why it works
A pattern is a rule. Once you know the rule, you can keep it going forever.
Worked example: Let's look
Red, blue, blue, red, blue, blue, red, ? What comes next?
- The part that repeats is red, blue, blue.
- After red comes blue.
Answer: Blue.
Common mistake
Many children guess from the last piece only. In red, blue, blue, red, blue, ? someone looking only at the last blue might say red, because red came after a blue before. But the part that repeats is red, blue, blue, so the next piece is blue.
For the grown-up. Make bead or snack patterns (cereal, crackers, grapes) and leave a gap for your child to fill. Then swap: your child makes the pattern and you guess.