Look at this row of blocks: red, blue, red, blue, red, blue. Now hands up: what colour do you think the tenth block would be, without laying all ten of them out one by one? Have a think about how you could be sure.

Two repeating patterns are on screen: one made of triangles and squares, one made of triangles and a square. Watch for the part that keeps coming back, and keep an eye on where the squares land in each one.

Today we explore patterns together on the board. We will start a repeating unit, then continue it for two more full repeats, and ring the unit so everyone can see the part that keeps coming back. After each one, we'll say which shape comes next and why.

Today we work through these patterns together, one at a time:

1. First, a pattern that goes star, diamond, star, diamond. Name the sixth shape.
2. Next, a pattern that goes triangle, square, circle. Name the ninth shape.
3. Then a longer jump. A pattern that goes circle, triangle, star. Name the twentieth shape.