Repeating and Increasing Patterns

Grade 2 patterning has two distinct strands: repeating patterns (with increasingly complex cores) and increasing patterns (where each term grows by a constant amount). An increasing pattern is the discrete version of a linear function: 3, 6, 9, 12 grows by 3 each step. Students who can describe the pattern rule (add 3 each time) and use it to predict the 10th term are doing early algebraic reasoning. Métis finger weaving and First Peoples armbands connect pattern mathematics to living cultural practices.