Repeating patterns in school activities

The regular school routine shows many repeating patterns.

For example, students may go to the library on the same day at the same time each week, or go to sport every Friday.

Many school years follow the sequence term-break-term-break-term-break-term-long holiday, which is almost a repeating pattern.

And events such as Anzac Day and students' birthdays always fall on the same date each year.

Exploration of such patterns can develop students' understanding of basic time units.

Charting regular events on a calendar can reinforce their understanding of rectangular grids and of number sequences.

Timelines are great examples of number lines.

Patterning concepts can be reinforced through integration with other curriculum areas.

Many children's picture books illustrate repeating patterns in either their language or the mathematics concepts included.

Art and music often exhibit repeating patterns or symmetry as do many physical education exercises.