How do you teach the unit of repeat?

Here are some ways to help students learn to identify the unit of repeat in one-dimensional patterns.

• Do not spend a long time making and drawing alternating AB patterns.
  The alternation often distracts students' attention away from the unit of repeat.
• Use hands-on materials such as interlocking cubes.
  Patterns made from manipulable materials can be easily pulled apart and the pieces compared.
• Use examples that have only complete units of repeat.
  But occasionally make a 'deliberate mistake' and see if students can spot what is wrong.
• Ask students to make a repeating pattern using a unit of repeat that you have given them (or one they have created themselves).
• Frequently ask students to use the unit of repeat to find the total 'length' of the pattern.
• Challenge students to fill in the gaps in a repeating pattern where you have removed some of the pieces.
  These challenges can range from easy tasks to more difficult tasks.

Colour in the missing square in this repeating pattern:	Find the missing letters in this repeating pattern:
	A  B  B  ?  A  B  ?  ?  A  B  ?  C
An easy task.	A more difficult task.

Always stress that the unit of repeat must be identical throughout the pattern.