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Finding Patterns

First graders learn to spot patterns — colors, shapes, sounds, and moves that repeat in order — and to predict what comes next, a key thinking skill in computer science.

Grade 1Patterns30 minutes1 class periodUse → Modify → CreateExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Find a pattern.
  • ✓Know patterns repeat.
  • ✓Guess what comes next.
  • ✓Make a pattern.
Essential Question

Patterns are all around us — things that repeat in order! Finding patterns helps you guess what comes next. What patterns can you find?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

The Patterns Explorer

Project this and tap each idea. Have children find patterns and guess what comes next.

🔮 Explore patterns — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · Use → Modify → Create (a coding progression with Unplugged practice)

30 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Things That Repeat

4 min

Patterns repeat in order — and help you guess what’s next!

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a color pattern.
  • Ask what comes next.
  • Get ready.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Guess.
  • Get ready.
2

Unplugged — Unplug It

8 min

Children practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Make a clap pattern.
  • Guess what’s next.
  • Feel the repeat.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Clap it.
  • Guess.
  • Feel it.
3

Use — Explore Patterns

9 min

Children use.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send children to the Patterns Explorer.
  • Note each pattern.
  • Guess what’s next.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Note it.
  • Guess.
4

Modify — Make One

6 min

Children modify.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Make a color pattern.
  • Extend a pattern.
  • Explain it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Make it.
  • Extend it.
  • Explain.
5

Create — Create

3 min

Children conclude.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Make a pattern.
  • Say what comes next.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Make one.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and ISTE Standards for Students.

CSTA
1A-AP-09

Model and extend patterns.

CSTA
1A-AP-08

Recognize patterns as steps.

CSTA
1A-AP-10

Use patterns in sequences.

ISTE
5

Computational Thinker.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Pattern picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “Next comes ___.”
  • Make patterns together.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with red-blue.
  • Use big pieces.
  • Extend one pattern.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Make a longer pattern.
  • Find patterns in the room.
  • Make a sound pattern.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🔴Pattern blocks/cards
  • 💻The Patterns Explorer
  • 👏Hands to clap
  • 🖍️Crayons
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

patternthings that repeat in orderrepeatto happen againnextwhat comes aftercolorlike red or blueshapelike a circlesoundlike a clappredictto guess what’s nextorderthe right position
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a pattern?
Things that repeat in order, like red-blue-red-blue.
QUESTION 2
If a pattern is red, blue, red, blue, what comes next?
Red.
QUESTION 3
Why can you guess what comes next in a pattern?
Because it repeats.

Create: a pattern.

Have children make a color or clap pattern at home and ask a family member what comes next. A printable patterns sheet is in the Computer Science library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Finding PatternsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Finding PatternsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Finding PatternsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: color, next, order, pattern, predict, repeat, shape, sound
  1. like red or blue
  2. like a clap
  3. like a circle
  4. to guess what’s next
  5. things that repeat in order
  6. to happen again
  7. the right position
  8. what comes after

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a pattern?
  2. If a pattern is red, blue, red, blue, what comes next?
  3. Why can you guess what comes next in a pattern?
Answer key — Part A: 1) color · 2) sound · 3) shape · 4) predict · 5) pattern · 6) repeat · 7) order · 8) next
Part B: 1) Things that repeat in order, like red-blue-red-blue. 2) Red. 3) Because it repeats.