Number Patterns Teaching Resources
Explore number patterns in your math classes this school year with fun worksheets, number sequence games and more teacher resources created to help your students understand how numbers in a sequence relate to one another.
Aligned with both TEKS and Common Core math standards, the printable and digital activities in this collection were created by the math teachers on the Teach Starter team to help you save time on your lesson plans.
Whether this is your first year teaching about number patterns or you're just looking for a little extra help, we've got you covered. Read on for a primer from our teacher team! We explain what number patterns are so you can share with your class, plus we explore three common patterns.
What Are Number Patterns? A Kid-Friendly Definition
A number pattern is a series of numbers that each follow the same rule. These patterns or sequences can help us find missing numbers or identify what number will come next in a series.
For example, let's say you are given the following list of numbers:
- 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24
This is an example of a number pattern in which the next number in the series is 4 more than the previous number. Once you can identify the pattern in a series of numbers like this one, you can then use that pattern to determine what number comes next or even what numbers could have come before the list began.
This is one of the many reasons number patterns are an important part of building students' algebraic reasoning skills. They help students understand how numbers can be related to one another and apply what they know about those relationships to solve problems.
3 Common Types of Number Patterns
We can't talk about number patterns without breaking down the different types your students are going to encounter in their math journey!
Linear Patterns
Linear patterns are number patterns in which the numbers increase or decrease by the same amount each time.
The example used above — in which each number in the series increased by a quantity of 4 — is a simple example of a linear pattern.
Geometric Number Patterns
Another type of pattern students may have to contend with is the geometric number pattern. This type involves numbers that are multiplied or divided by a constant factor.
The multiplication table is an example of a geometric number pattern.
Recursive Patterns
Students will have to make full use of their understanding of the four whole number operations to work with recursive patterns. That's because this pattern involves finding each successive number in the sequence by performing a specific operation on the previous number(s).
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Odd and Even Numbers Poster Set
Display these classroom posters with odd and even numbers to help students memorize these math rules!
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Odd and Even Numbers PowerPoint
A 23-slide interactive PowerPoint to use when introducing odd and even numbers to your students.
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Skip Counting Exit Tickets
Assess student understanding of skip counting within 1000 by 5s 10s and 100s.
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Skip Counting Worksheets (Fill in the Blanks)
Use this set of skip counting worksheets to check student understanding of skip counting in increasing intervals of 5, 10 and 100.
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Ten More, Ten Less Within 100 - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Practice adding and subtracting 10 from given numbers within 100 in this cut-and-paste worksheet.
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Ten More, Ten Less Within 999 - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Practice adding and subtracting 10 from a given 3-digit number in this cut-and-paste worksheet.
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Secret Number Patterns – Card Game
Keep your secret number pattern hidden as you race to be the first to create number patterns based on given rules.
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Equation Match-Up!
Match word problems, equations, and visual models with this match-up activity.
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Writing Equations From Word Problems – Differentiated Digital & Printable Worksheets
Practice writing equations from word problems with this set of differentiated worksheets.
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1 to 9 Number Sequencing Activity - Dog Template
A fun dog-themed number sequencing activity.
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Count the Dimes Worksheet
Use skip counting and addition skills to determine the number of dimes needed for a given amount.
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Rolling to 100 Board Game
Practice counting to 100 by 1's with this interactive hundreds chart board game for multiple players.
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1-100 Number Chart
Count by 1’s with your students by arranging number tiles 1-100.
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100 Chart Missing Numbers
Practice counting forward beginning from a given number with this set of 100 charts and recording sheets.
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Counting by 10's Maze
Find the fun and learn to skip count by 10s up to 100 with this engaging maze activity!
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One More, One Less Match-Up - Two-Digit Numbers
Identify one more or one less of a given 2-digit number with this set of 36 match up cards.
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More or Less Worksheet
Practice adding and subtracting 10 and 100 to a three-digit number.
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Connect the Dots Worksheet — Skip Counting by Twos (Car-Themed)
Use this printable connect-the-dots worksheet with a car theme for students to demonstrate skip counting by twos.
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Complex Dot-to-dot – Skip Counting by Fives (Turtle) – Worksheet
A complex dot-to-dot where students demonstrate skip counting by fives.
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Gingerbread Man Sequencing Puzzle – Numbers 1–10
A fun sequencing puzzle using numbers 1–10.
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What's Next? - Counting Task Cards
Practice counting forward and backward from numbers within 100 with this set of 16 task cards.
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Missing Numbers – Task Cards
Practice counting by 1s forward and backward by completing number sequences with this set of 12 task cards.
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Skip Counting Robot Worksheets - 2s, 5s, and 10s
A set of 4 robot-themed worksheets for students to practice skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s.
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Skip Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s PowerPoint
A 28-page editable PowerPoint to use in the classroom when introducing skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s.
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Five Speckled Frogs Worksheet
A worksheet to use in the classroom when learning to count to 5.
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Hundreds Boards with Missing Numbers - 1-100 and 101-200
A set of 12 hundreds boards worksheets with missing numbers.
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Skip Counting Number Puzzles
A fun and engaging set of 10 number puzzles to help students skip count in the classroom.
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Blank Hundreds Chart Template
A blank black and white hundreds board that can be used for a variety of activities.
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Dividing by 1,000 Worksheet
A worksheet for students to complete when learning to divide by 1,000.
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Divisible by 2 - Task Cards
Help your students practice determining if a number is divisible by 2 with this set of task cards.
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One More, One Less - Thanksgiving Math Worksheet
Help your students practice finding one more and one less than a number with a printable Thanksgiving One More, One Less worksheet.
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Thanksgiving Dot to Dot Worksheets
Practice counting up to 40 and create beautiful Thanksgiving art using a set of printable Thanksgiving Connect the Dots Printables.