Patterning is something that children will be exploring over and over again as they grow up. There are so many math, science, and language patterns that they will encounter. This simple math activity was designed to use LEGO to explore preschool patterns. I am going to share with you a
I am going to share with you an activity that explores AB patterns, but your children can explore ABC, ABA, ABBA, or other patterns. This idea isn’t that they just make every other block the same color. They idea is that you talk with your children about the pattern and have them predict what color will be next. Let me walk you through how you can explore preschool patterns with your children.
Preschool Patterns
Getting Ready
You will need to put out a base plate for your children to use as work space. We had a 16×16 base plate so that is what we used. If you have a bigger base plate available to use, please feel free to use it.
Warning: By using a smaller base plate we did break a patterning rule. The rule states that a pattern really isn’t a pattern unless it is repeated three times.
Next, you will need to pull out bricks in eight different colors. You will at least three of each of the colors.
Getting Started
You will need to have your children pick out two colors they want to start with. Then they will need to place them in piles by the workspace.
Then they will need to decide what color they want to start with. They will place that brick on left-hand edge at the top of the workspace.
Completing Row One
You can then help them figure out that the second color will need to go right beside it in a row.
Children will continue to repeat that pattern until the reach the end of the row. It is okay if they don’t end the pattern. If it is important to you that they do, they can put the remaining brick beside the row on the table.
Completing Row Two
Children can look at the top row they have completed and use it as a model for completing the second row. You can have them use the same colors or select two totally different colors. The pattern they are exploring will stay the same.
Completing Row Three
Row three will continue to explore preschool patterns, but you will start the row for them. You will need to place two different colored bricks in the row. It doesn’t matter where you place them. Your children will fill in the missing blocks to complete the pattern. They can refer to the two rows above it to figure out where they need to place the bricks.
If you are looking for more great LEGO learning ideas, you will want to check these out:
STEM Engineering- Build Houses for the Three Little Pigs
Ocean Themed LEGO Counting Mats
