Patterns

A pattern is when something happens again and again in order. You can find patterns in colors, shapes, and numbers. Patterns are also all around us in nature. Stripes on a zebra and petals on a flower are patterns. Math helps us spot and understand them.

Kinds of Patterns

Patterns can be made with shapes, like circle, square, circle, square. They can also be made with colors, like red, blue, red, blue. Number patterns use numbers that follow a rule. For example, 2, 4, 6, 8 is a pattern where you add 2 each time. Once you know the rule, you can guess what comes next.

Patterns in Nature

Nature is full of patterns. The spots on a ladybug and the stripes on a tiger are patterns. Flower petals often grow in special number patterns. Honeybees build hives in hexagon shapes. Even snowflakes have six matching sides.

Fun Facts

• The Fibonacci pattern starts with 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and adds the last two numbers to get the next.
• Spider webs show a spiral pattern.
• Every snowflake has six sides but each one is different.

Did You Know?

Sunflowers grow their seeds in a spiral pattern that follows the Fibonacci numbers.