Patterns

By Guest

• June 23, 2011
Sue Ridgway Another in the new series of topics based articles, giving downloadable focus plans, activity ideas and other resources around the theme of Patterns. These are ideas only: ANY CURRICULUM LINKS DO NOT RELATE TO THE CURRENT (2012) EYFS REQUIREMENTS

‘Patterns’ is an easily accessible topic with a wealth of stories, songs and rhymes to back it up. The children quickly become absorbed and are soon happily ‘pattern-spotting’ throughout their day. It’s a topic I particularly enjoy exploring with the different groups of children, who can be relied upon to put their own spin on things, everytime!

Once you start thinking around this topic it is sometimes a surprise to see the huge variety of experiences and learning outcomes which are possible, so have fun!

Below you will find topic activities and ideas organised into the six areas of learning. There are also two detailed focus plans for each area of learning - these are given as downloadable documents in two popular formats: MS Word and Adobe Acrobat Reader (pdf). A mindmap is given as an easy reference sheet, and this is accompanied by a recommended booklist.

 

Personal Social and Emotional Development (PSED)

Communication, language and literacy (CLL)

Knowledge and understanding of the world (KUW)

Mathematical Development (MD)

Physical Development (PD)

Creative Development (CD)

Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)

Ideas and Suggestions

• Fruit kebabs
• Patterns on clothing
• Collections of patterned items
• Making a large scale pattern
• Group Batik wall hanging
• Matching/sequencing table-top games
• “I went to the market”
• Daily patterns
• Have a ‘Pattern’ day – dress up and theme food
• Life cycle patterns
• Finger prints
• Uniforms
• Small world lay outs created in a repeated pattern

Activities

Fruit Kebabs/forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

Group Wall Hanging /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

(Back to contents list )

Communication, language and literacy (CLL)

Ideas and Suggestions:

• What types of patterns are there?
• Repetitive stories
• Salt/sand trays
• “My Mum and Dad Make Me Laugh” (a really good introduction to the topic)
• Fabric boxes to explore and discuss
• Patterns on soles of footwear – what and why?
• Spot the pattern – in a poster, picture or around the room/environment
• Story boards to sequence stories
• Finger rhymes
• Book list for stories, rhymes etc. – attached
• Describe patterns

Activities

My Mum and Dad made me laugh /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

Shoe Patterns /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

list of activities in MS Word and pdf format

(Back to contents list)

Knowledge and understanding of the world (KUW)

Ideas and Suggestions:

• Fabric and wallpaper samples and books to explore and compare
• Kaleidoscopes
• Food patterns
• Mendhi
• Outdoor rubbings
• Pattern walks
• Patterns from around the world
• Explore honeycombs
• Tidal patterns
• Phases of the moon
• Seasonal sequence
• Grow butterflies
• Keep frogspawn
• Raindrops in puddles
• Look at world flags

Activities

Mendhi Hands /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

Spotty Couscous /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

(Back to contents list)

Mathematical Development (MD)

Ideas and Suggestions:

• Sort patterns in wall paper, fabric samples
• Linking elephants or camels
• Compare bears
• Raindrops in puddles – concentric circles
• Threading activities
• Explore symmetry
• Favourite patterns – make graphs
• Sorting patterned items
• Tessellating games
• Dominoes
• Icing and decorating cakes/biscuits to a counted plan

Activites

Domino Biscuits /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

Linking Elephants /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

(Back to contents list)

Physical Development (PD)

Ideas and Suggestions:

• ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’
• Weaving activities
• Peg boards
• ‘Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’
• Obstacle course
• Body patterns – individual or group, static or mobile
• Let’s go Zudie-o game
• Musical ‘Spots’ (a variation on Musical Chairs)
• Hopscotch
• Sand/salt trays
• Making patterns using tools in dough/clay
• Making snowflakes
• In and out the dusty bluebells

Activites

Musical Spots /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

Weaving /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

(Back to contents list)

Creative Development (CD)

Ideas and Suggestions:

• Musical patterns
• Make own wrapping paper
• Butterfly painting
• Potato/block printing
• Simple sequence dances
• Table finger painting
• Collage Elmer
• Salt/sand trays
• Clapping/stamping patterns
• Role play clothes shop
• Finger printing dots
• Make tiger/zebra masks
• Face paints

Activites

Dance /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

Finger Painting /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

(Back to contents list)

'Patterns' Forum

Accompanying this article we have a dedicated Forum area - please feel free to join in and contribute to discussions and suggestions on the topic. Find the 'Patterns' forum here

Other Resources

• A booklist is available here
• 'mindmap' document in MS Word format - click here