Learning to recognize, copy, extend, and create patterns is important because it helps to build higher-level thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as build a foundation for future math skills. Perfect for back-to-school, fall, and/or Johnny Appleseed day, this apple patterning exercise is a great addition to your math center plans! Simply provide your students with apple themed manipulatives (we plan to include simple card stock apple cutouts in dark red, light red, green, and yellow), as well as crayons and a recording sheet. To get them started, you might consider providing an example or two for them to identify, extend, and record. Then, once they've practiced with the examples, invite them to create their own! Students can use the card stock cutouts (or other apple themed manipulatives) to create the pattern, then use the crayons to record their new patterns on the worksheet.
