This Internet Mathematics Excursion is a brief mathematics activity. To maximize student learning, certain prerequisites are necessary to use this activity. Therefore, it would be appropriate to include this activity
as part of a more fully developed Standards-based lesson, but it should not be used as a complete stand-alone lesson.
Fostering the ability to create and analyze simple patterns and make predictions about them is a major learning goal in the primary grades. Using the interactive math applet, students can create and study different pattern units. The interactive applet is designed so students will place unit patterns one at a time on the grid as they extend their patterns, or have the computer fill in the entire grid. This example encourages students to explore what new designs their pattern units will generate when repeated on the grid.
The Making Patterns 1 activity sheet encourages students to predict, explore, and analyze repeating patterns. Throughout the activity, students also explore the divisibility of ten by two.
To introduce the excursion, tape one blue square and one red square onto the board. Define these two colored squares as a "unit pattern" that can be repeated again and again. Ask a volunteer to tape the remaining two squares on the board and demonstrate a repeating pattern. Inform students that they will be using the computer to explore similar two-unit patterns, which repeat to fill up 100 squares on a grid.
Place students into teams of two and distribute a Making Patterns 1 activity sheet to each group. They should visit the following Web site: Creating, Describing and Analyzing Patterns.
Working
together, partners share the responsibility of "Mouse Driver" and "Reader/Recorder". The "Reader/Recorder" will read the directions from the activity sheet and record observations while guiding the activity. The "Mouse
Driver" controls the action of the mouse and movement on the computer screen. Partners should switch roles until all have moved the mouse.
Students should click on the stand-alone applet to begin. As students work through the activity, walk from group to group, encouraging them to focus on the number of squares in their pattern unit and how this unit will look when repeated in a ten-by-ten grid. Also, encourage students as they work through the activity sheet to think about the relationship of dividing 10 by 2. Ask
questions like the following as you monitor and facilitate the group work.
When students have finished the Making Patterns 1 activity sheet, lead a class discussion about what they have learned. Write "Pattern Discoveries" on a piece of butcher paper and ask questions like those listed in the "Questions for Students" section.
