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Making Patterns

Second graders learn to recognize and create patterns in art — repeating shapes, colors, and lines — discovering how patterns add rhythm and design to their artwork.

Grade 2Elements40 minutes1 class periodArtistic ProcessExplicit teaching4 StandardsNCAS
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define a pattern.
  • ✓Find patterns in art.
  • ✓Create a pattern.
  • ✓Use repetition.
Essential Question

Stripes, polka dots, zigzags — patterns are everywhere in art! What makes a pattern, and how can you create one in your own artwork?

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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

Patterns Check

Project each item and have students answer about patterns in art. The tool explains what makes a pattern.

🔁 Understand patterns in artTry it
Answer each question about patterns.
The Lesson · Artistic Process (Look · Explore · Create · Share · Reflect)

40 minutes, five moves

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

1

Look — Patterns All Around

5 min

Stripes, dots, zigzags — patterns are everywhere. What makes one?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show patterned art.
  • Ask what repeats.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Find repeats.
  • Predict.
2

Explore — Explore Patterns

8 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Patterns Check.
  • Note what repeats.
  • Find patterns in art.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note repeats.
  • Find them.
3

Create — Create

14 min

Students create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Make a repeating pattern.
  • Use shapes or colors.
  • Design a border.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Make one.
  • Repeat it.
  • Design it.
4

Share — Share

8 min

Students share.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show their pattern.
  • Explain the repeat.
  • Give kind feedback.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Show it.
  • Explain it.
  • Be kind.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students respond.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Define a pattern.
  • Show one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Define it.
  • Show it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the National Core Arts Standards (Visual Arts).

NCAS
VA:Re7.2.2

Analyze how patterns are used in art.

NCAS
VA:Cr1.1.2

Generate ideas using pattern.

NCAS
VA:Cr2.1.2

Experiment with repeating patterns.

NCAS
VA:Re7.1.2

Perceive patterns in the world and in art.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Pattern strip cards.
  • Sentence frame: “Next comes ___.”
  • Build patterns with shapes.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with two-part patterns.
  • Extend one at a time.
  • Use shapes.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Make a three-part pattern.
  • Design a patterned border.
  • Find patterns in a masterpiece.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🔷Shape stamps/cutouts
  • 💻Patterns Check
  • 🖍️Crayons
  • 📄Paper strips
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

patterna repeating designrepeatto happen again and againrhythma sense of movement from repeatingshapea flat, closed formbordera patterned edgedesigna planned arrangementpredictto say what comes nextorganizedarranged in order
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 in art?
Something that repeats in a planned way, like stripes or dots.
QUESTION 2
What comes next? 🔺⚫🔺⚫ ___
A triangle (🔺) — the pattern repeats triangle, circle.
QUESTION 3
Why do artists use patterns?
To make their art interesting, organized, and full of rhythm.

Reflect: your own pattern.

Have students create a repeating pattern with shapes or colors and have a family member guess what comes next. A printable patterns sheet is in the Arts 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.

🃏 Making 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.

📝 Making PatternsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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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.

🖨️ Making PatternsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: border, design, organized, pattern, predict, repeat, rhythm, shape
  1. a repeating design
  2. to say what comes next
  3. a sense of movement from repeating
  4. a patterned edge
  5. arranged in order
  6. a flat, closed form
  7. a planned arrangement
  8. to happen again and again

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a pattern in art?
  2. What comes next? 🔺⚫🔺⚫ ___
  3. Why do artists use patterns?
Answer key — Part A: 1) pattern · 2) predict · 3) rhythm · 4) border · 5) organized · 6) shape · 7) design · 8) repeat
Part B: 1) Something that repeats in a planned way, like stripes or dots. 2) A triangle (🔺) — the pattern repeats triangle, circle. 3) To make their art interesting, organized, and full of rhythm.