Five Minute Math- Pattern Play and Memorization, an easy and fun math activity for families

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When you think about math, what do you think of? Numbers and symbols? Operations and variables… maybe geometric shapes with missing sides? All of these examples are common “numerical” mathematics- math that uses numbers and symbols. But are there other ways of doing math… without numbers?

Patterns are one of my favorite “non-numerical” math activities. They are interesting, challenging, beautiful, and absolutely essential in a child’s mathematical education. This week, we encourage you and your child to explore patterns with a fun and easy memory game.

What you need:

• Materials for pattern creation (tangram blocks are an amazing and versatile material to have around, but anything, from buttons to crayons, can be used)
• A towel or cloth (any kind of cover will work, but play silks are a fun option than can be reused for open-ended play)

How to do it:

1. Divide your pattern materials into two equal groups- each group should have the same type and number of pieces.
2. Create a pattern or design. Show it to your child and let them look at it. Explain that they will need to copy your design, so it’s important to look carefully.
3. After giving them a chance to look, cover the design. Ask you child to build the exact design they saw.
4. Once your child is finished, uncover your original design and compare. What parts did your child remember? Which parts may have been more difficult?
5. Repeat the activity as long as your child is interested. For added fun, you can give your child a turn to build the first pattern while you try to copy it.

It is best to start with a simple pattern, then progress to more complicated and difficult designs are your child gains confidence. This is also a great time to share and practice memorization tricks– do any of these tricks make recreating the pattern easier?

If you tried this activity, I’d love to know how it went. Please add a comment below. And don’t forget to follow us on social media for more great content.