Patterns and Functions: Introduction

Objectives:

• Students will learn new vocabulary as it relates to patterns.

• Students will learn how to determine pattern rules.

• Students will practice figuring out pattern rules.

• Students will practice using those rules to complete patterns.

Suggested Grades:

Sixth Grade - Seventh Grade - Eighth Grade - Ninth Grade - including special education students

Lesson Procedure:

Print the classroom lesson plan and worksheet questions (see below).

Lesson Excerpt:

Introduction to Patterns

Note: Calculators will be helpful to students during this unit.

"Today we are going to start talking about and working with patterns. Patterns are all around us. We see them everywhere we go. We see them in clothing, wallpaper, any kind of print usually has a pattern, we could go on and on. But one of the other places that we see patterns is in mathematics."

"In mathematics, patterns can be either numbers, letters or shapes. The important thing to remember is that there are all kinds of patterns, and your job is often to figure out what the pattern is."

"Before we start working on solving patterns and continuing patterns, here are a few notes. Here are some vocabulary words that you are going to need when working on patterns."

On Board: 1. Sequence- a series of numbers, shapes or letters that fall in a particular order.

Sum- means the operation addition
Difference- means the operation subtraction
Product- means the operation multiplication
Term- a number, letter or symbol used in mathematics
Pattern- a sequence of terms where each term is related to the other terms in some way.
Preceding- means before- preceding term would mean term before the next one.
Ascending pattern- a pattern that goes up in value or quantity.
Descending pattern- a pattern that goes down in value or quantity.

Continued...