- Definition
A shrinking pattern is when something gets smaller or has fewer parts each time it repeats, like going from four blocks to three, then two, then one.
The sequence 25, 20, 15, 10 is a shrinking pattern because it subtracts 5 each time.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A shrinking pattern is like a countdown for a race, where the numbers get smaller each second until you reach the start.
Ask your child: If the pattern is 10, 8, 6... what's happening to the number each time?
Common mix-up: Kids may think a shrinking pattern always decreases by one. The key is that the pattern follows a consistent rule of subtraction, like taking away 2 or 5 each time.
Examples
- A row of 10 circles, then a row of 8, then a row of 6.
- Starting at 99 and taking away 11 each time: 99, 88, 77, 66.
shrinking pattern is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
+4 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 ↗
