Skip Counting & Repeating Patterns
AB Pattern: Stars and Hearts
Look at the pattern. Draw the missing shapes to continue it.
AB Pattern: Circles and Squares
Continue each pattern by drawing the next shapes.
AB Pattern: Apples and Fish
What comes next? Draw the missing objects.
AB Pattern: Flowers and Diamonds
Look at the pattern carefully. Fill in the missing shapes.
AB Pattern: Butterflies and Suns
Continue these patterns. What comes next?
What Comes Next? (AB Patterns)
Look at each pattern. Circle the shape that comes next.
star, heart, star, heart, star, ?
circle, square, circle, square, ?
apple, fish, apple, fish, apple, ?
flower, diamond, flower, diamond, flower, ?
Find the Repeating Unit (AB)
What is the repeating unit in each pattern? Circle the correct answer.
Pattern: star, heart, star, heart, star, heart ...
Pattern: circle, square, circle, square ...
Pattern: sun, moon, sun, moon, sun, moon ...
Pattern: apple, fish, apple, fish ...
Match the AB Patterns
Draw a line to match each pattern to its repeating unit.
ABC Pattern: Three Shapes
These patterns use three different shapes. Draw the missing ones.
ABC Pattern: Hearts, Stars and Flowers
Look at each pattern carefully. Draw the next shapes.
ABC Pattern: Animals and Objects
Continue each pattern by filling in the blanks.
ABC Pattern: More Practice
What comes next? Fill in the missing shapes.
What Comes Next? (ABC Patterns)
Look at each pattern. Circle the shape that comes next.
circle, square, triangle, circle, square, triangle, circle, ?
heart, star, flower, heart, star, ?
cat, dog, bird, cat, dog, bird, cat, dog, ?
apple, banana, grape, apple, ?
Find the Repeating Unit (ABC)
What is the repeating unit in each pattern? Circle the correct answer.
Pattern: circle, square, triangle, circle, square, triangle ...
Pattern: heart, star, flower, heart, star, flower ...
Pattern: sun, moon, star, sun, moon, star ...
Pattern: cat, dog, bird, cat, dog, bird ...
Match the ABC Patterns
Draw a line to match each pattern to its repeating unit.
AAB Patterns
These patterns have two of the same, then one different. Continue the pattern.
ABB Patterns
These patterns have one shape, then two of another. Continue the pattern.
Name That Pattern Type
Look at each pattern. Is it an AB, ABC, AAB or ABB pattern? Circle the correct answer.
star, heart, star, heart, star, heart ...
circle, circle, triangle, circle, circle, triangle ...
flower, sun, moon, flower, sun, moon ...
diamond, heart, heart, diamond, heart, heart ...
apple, fish, apple, fish ...
Mixed Pattern Practice 1
Each row has a different kind of pattern. Continue it!
Mixed Pattern Practice 2
What comes next in each pattern?
Find the Repeating Unit (Mixed)
What is the repeating unit in each pattern? Circle the correct answer.
Pattern: star, star, heart, star, star, heart ...
Pattern: flower, sun, sun, flower, sun, sun ...
Pattern: apple, banana, grape, apple, banana, grape ...
Pattern: cat, cat, dog, cat, cat, dog ...
Match Pattern to Type
Draw a line to match each pattern to the correct pattern type.
Count by 2s
Fill in the missing numbers. These patterns count by 2s.
Count by 2s — More Practice
Keep counting by 2s! Write the missing numbers.
Count by 5s
Fill in the missing numbers. These patterns count by 5s.
Count by 5s — More Practice
Keep skip counting by 5s. Write the missing numbers.
Count by 10s
Fill in the missing numbers. These patterns count by 10s.
Count by 3s
Fill in the missing numbers. These patterns count by 3s.
Count by 4s
Fill in the missing numbers. These patterns count by 4s.
What Rule Does This Pattern Follow?
Look at the number pattern. Circle the skip counting rule.
2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 ...
5, 10, 15, 20, 25 ...
3, 6, 9, 12, 15 ...
10, 20, 30, 40, 50 ...
4, 8, 12, 16, 20 ...
What Number Comes Next?
Look at the skip counting pattern. Circle the number that comes next.
2, 4, 6, 8, ?
5, 10, 15, 20, ?
3, 6, 9, 12, ?
10, 20, 30, 40, ?
4, 8, 12, 16, ?
Match the Skip Counting Rule
Draw a line to match each number pattern to the correct counting rule.
Translate the Pattern (Shapes to Shapes)
Each row shows a pattern. The second row uses different shapes but follows the same rule. Fill in the blanks.
Same Pattern, Different Shapes
Which pattern follows the same rule as the one shown?
Pattern: star, heart, star, heart, star, heart ...
Pattern: apple, apple, fish, apple, apple, fish ...
Pattern: cat, dog, bird, cat, dog, bird ...
Pattern: sun, moon, moon, sun, moon, moon ...
Fill in the Middle
Some shapes in the middle of the pattern are missing. Work out the pattern rule and fill them in.
Fill in the Middle — More Practice
Some shapes in the pattern are missing. Use the pattern rule to work out what goes in each gap.
Sort Patterns by Type
Read each pattern. Sort them into the correct column: AB patterns or ABC patterns.
Mixed Skip Counting
Each row counts by a different number. Work out the rule and fill in the missing numbers.
Backwards Skip Counting
These patterns count backwards! Fill in the missing numbers.
Counting Forwards or Backwards?
Look at each pattern. Is it counting forwards or backwards?
2, 4, 6, 8, 10 ...
20, 15, 10, 5 ...
30, 27, 24, 21 ...
4, 8, 12, 16, 20 ...
AABB Patterns
These patterns have two of each shape together. Continue the pattern.
AABB Patterns — More Practice
Keep going with AABB patterns. Fill in the missing shapes.
ABBC Patterns
These patterns have a tricky repeating unit. Look carefully and continue.
ABAC Patterns
In these patterns, one shape appears twice with others in between. Continue the pattern.
Find the Repeating Unit (Complex Patterns)
What is the repeating unit? Circle the correct answer.
Pattern: star, star, heart, heart, star, star, heart, heart ...
Pattern: circle, triangle, triangle, square, circle, triangle, triangle, square ...
Pattern: sun, moon, sun, star, sun, moon, sun, star ...
Pattern: apple, apple, fish, fish, apple, apple, fish, fish ...
Name That Complex Pattern
What type of pattern is this? Circle the correct answer.
star, star, heart, heart, star, star, heart, heart ...
circle, triangle, triangle, square, circle, triangle, triangle, square ...
sun, moon, sun, star, sun, moon, sun, star ...
flower, flower, butterfly, butterfly, flower, flower, butterfly, butterfly ...
Match Complex Patterns to Type
Draw a line to match each pattern to the correct pattern type.
Tricky Skip Counting
These skip counting patterns are a bit harder. Find the rule and fill in the blanks.
Growing Number Patterns
These patterns grow! Each time, the gap gets bigger. Fill in the missing numbers.
Create Your Own AB Pattern
Use the space below to draw your own repeating patterns.
Draw an AB pattern using two shapes of your choice. Repeat it at least 3 times:
What is the repeating unit in your pattern?
Create Your Own ABC Pattern
Now try making patterns with three different shapes.
Draw an ABC pattern. Repeat it at least 2 times:
What is the repeating unit?
Create a Complex Pattern
Challenge yourself to make a harder pattern!
Draw an AABB or ABBC pattern. Repeat it at least 2 times:
What type of pattern did you make (e.g. AABB, ABBC)?
What is the repeating unit?
Create a Skip Counting Pattern
Write your own skip counting patterns.
Write a skip counting pattern that counts by 2s. Start from any number:
Write a skip counting pattern that counts by 5s. Start from any number:
Write a skip counting pattern that counts backwards by 10s:
Odd One Out — Shape Patterns
One of these patterns does not follow the same rule as the others. Circle the odd one out.
Which pattern is NOT an AB pattern?
Which pattern is NOT an ABC pattern?
Which pattern has a different repeating unit length?
Odd One Out — Number Patterns
One of these number patterns does not follow the same rule. Circle the odd one out.
Which pattern does NOT count by 2s?
Which pattern does NOT count by 5s?
Which pattern does NOT count by 10s?
Fix the Broken Pattern 1
Someone made a mistake in each pattern! One shape is wrong. Cross it out and draw the correct shape in the blank.
Fix the Broken Pattern 2
There is a mistake in each row. Find the shape that does not belong, cross it out, and fill in the blank with the correct shape.
Which Shape Is Wrong?
Each pattern has one mistake. Circle the shape that does not belong.
star, heart, star, FLOWER, star, heart — which is wrong?
circle, square, triangle, circle, CIRCLE, triangle — which is wrong?
apple, fish, apple, fish, apple, APPLE — which is wrong?
sun, sun, moon, sun, MOON, moon — which is wrong?
Which Number Is Wrong?
Each skip counting pattern has one mistake. Circle the number that does not belong.
2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12
5, 10, 15, 25, 25, 30
10, 20, 30, 35, 50, 60
3, 6, 9, 11, 15, 18
Explain the Pattern
Look at each pattern and explain the rule in your own words.
Pattern: star, heart, star, heart, star, heart ... What is the rule?
Pattern: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 ... What is the rule?
Pattern: circle, circle, square, circle, circle, square ... What is the rule?
Pattern Reasoning
Answer these questions about patterns.
If a pattern goes star, heart, star, heart ... what will the 10th shape be? Explain how you know:
If you count by 5s starting at 5, will you ever say the number 23? Why or why not?
How are these two patterns the same? star, heart, star, heart ... AND circle, square, circle, square ...
Sort by Pattern Length
Sort these patterns by the length of their repeating unit — short (2 shapes) or long (3 or more shapes).
Match the Pattern to Its Description
Draw a line to match each pattern to the correct description.
Pattern Detective
Use your pattern skills to solve these puzzles.
I am thinking of a pattern. The repeating unit has 3 shapes. The first and third shapes are the same. What type of pattern could this be? Draw an example:
A skip counting pattern starts at 4 and the next number is 8. What could the rule be? What are the next 4 numbers?
Sam says the pattern 'star, heart, heart, star, heart, heart' is an AB pattern. Is Sam correct? Explain why or why not:
True or False — Patterns
Read each statement. Write 'True' or 'False' and explain your answer.
An AB pattern always uses exactly 2 different shapes. True or false?
When you count by 5s, every number ends in 0 or 5. True or false?
The pattern 'circle, square, circle, square' has a repeating unit of 3. True or false?
If you count by 2s starting from 1, you get 1, 3, 5, 7 ... True or false?
Home Activity: Patterns Everywhere
Find and make repeating patterns at home!
- 1Find a pattern on clothing, tiles or a blanket. What is the repeating unit?
- 2Make a pattern using spoons and forks: spoon, fork, spoon, fork ...
- 3Clap a rhythm pattern: clap-clap-stomp, clap-clap-stomp ...
- 4Use coloured blocks or LEGO to build a 3-colour repeating pattern.
- 5Look for patterns in nature — leaves, petals, bark. Draw one you find.
Home Activity: Skip Counting Fun
Practise skip counting with things around the house!
- 1Count your socks by 2s. How many pairs do you have?
- 2Put out groups of 5 objects (e.g. grapes or blocks). Count them by 5s.
- 3Count by 10s while jumping or clapping. How high can you go?
- 4Line up coins or buttons in groups of 3. Skip count to find the total.
- 5With a grown-up, count backwards by 2s from 20 to 0.