Patterns

Children, including young babies, recognise and use patterns every day. Patterns help children organise information, make predictions, and understand the world around them.

When early childhood educators teach children about patterns, they are teaching mathematics.

EYLF learning outcomes

Patterns aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework as it teaches children patterns (5.4).

Learning experiences

Create animal scale art

Draw an animal and put scales on its body in an overlapping pattern.

Cut paper towel rolls in half lengthwise to create a semicircle shape. Dip the end in paint to make animal scale prints.

Tear up pieces of paper into the shape of scales. Search for packaging that looks like scales, like bubble wrap. Draw tiny scales with a sharp pencil or fine-tip pen.

Collect tiny leaves from your garden. Do they look like scales?