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Finding Patterns

Third graders learn to recognize, extend, and create patterns — a key computational-thinking skill that helps them spot what repeats and predict what comes next, just like computer scientists do.

Grade 3Computational Thinking35 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…

  • ✓Define a pattern.
  • ✓Extend a pattern.
  • ✓Explain what repeats.
  • ✓Create a pattern.
Essential Question

Red, blue, red, blue… what comes next? Spotting patterns is one of the most important thinking skills in computer science! What is a pattern, and how do we find them?

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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 find what comes next. The tool explains patterns and how to extend them.

🔁 Find the pattern — what comes next?Try it
Answer each question about patterns.
The Lesson · Use → Modify → Create (a coding progression with Unplugged practice)

35 minutes, five moves

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

1

Hook — What Comes Next?

5 min

Red, blue, red, blue… what comes next? Patterns are everywhere!

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a pattern.
  • Ask what’s next.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Guess.
  • Predict.
2

Unplugged — Spotting Patterns

8 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Patterns Check.
  • Find each pattern.
  • Note what repeats.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note repeats.
  • Explain.
3

Use — Extend It

9 min

Students use.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Extend a pattern.
  • Say what repeats.
  • Check it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Extend it.
  • Say it.
  • Check.
4

Modify — Make a Pattern

8 min

Students modify.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Create a new pattern.
  • Trade with a partner.
  • Extend theirs.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Create one.
  • Trade.
  • Extend.
5

Create — Create

5 min

Students conclude.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

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

🎒 Student Actions

  • Define it.
  • Make one.
  • 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
1B-AP-08

Compare and refine algorithms using patterns.

CSTA
1B-AP-11

Decompose problems into smaller parts.

CSTA
1B-AP-10

Create programs that use sequences.

ISTE
5

Computational Thinker — recognize patterns.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

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

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with red-blue patterns.
  • Extend two at a time.
  • Use objects.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Make a growing pattern.
  • Explain a number pattern.
  • Code a repeating pattern.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🔴Colored objects
  • 💻Patterns Check
  • 📄Pattern strips
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

patternsomething that repeats predictablyrepeatto happen again and againpredictto say what comes nextextendto continue a patternsequencethings in a certain orderrulehow a pattern workssortto group by a rulecomputational thinkingsolving problems like a computer scientist
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?
Something that repeats in a way you can predict.
QUESTION 2
What comes next? 🔴🔵🔴🔵 ___
Red (🔴) — the pattern is red, blue, repeating.
QUESTION 3
Why are patterns important in computer science?
Spotting patterns helps us solve problems and predict what comes next.

Create: your own pattern.

Have students make a pattern with objects, colors, or claps and have a family member guess 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.

🃏 PatternsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

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

📝 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.

🖨️ PatternsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: computational thinking, extend, pattern, predict, repeat, rule, sequence, sort
  1. to continue a pattern
  2. something that repeats predictably
  3. to happen again and again
  4. to group by a rule
  5. how a pattern works
  6. solving problems like a computer scientist
  7. things in a certain order
  8. to say what comes next

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a pattern?
  2. What comes next? 🔴🔵🔴🔵 ___
  3. Why are patterns important in computer science?
Answer key — Part A: 1) extend · 2) pattern · 3) repeat · 4) sort · 5) rule · 6) computational thinking · 7) sequence · 8) predict
Part B: 1) Something that repeats in a way you can predict. 2) Red (🔴) — the pattern is red, blue, repeating. 3) Spotting patterns helps us solve problems and predict what comes next.