- Definition
A pattern is a design or sequence that repeats or changes in a predictable way, like stripes on a shirt or numbers that always go up by two.
Red, blue, red, blue follows a repeating pattern.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A pattern is like a rhythm you can see — something that repeats in a predictable way.
Ask your child: What part of this pattern repeats?
Common mix-up: Kids may think any sequence is a pattern. A pattern must follow a rule that repeats.
Examples
- Lining up crayons red, blue, red, blue to make a repeating pattern.
- Clapping hands soft, loud, soft, loud to follow a sound pattern.
pattern is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
+103 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
