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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Dot-to-Dot Drawing - Counting by 2 - Dinosaur
A dot-to-dot worksheet to practice counting by 2’s to 124.
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Dot-to-Dot Drawing - Counting by 2 - Alien
A dot-to-dot worksheet to practice counting by 2’s to 200.
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Dot-to-Dot Drawing - Counting by 1 - Elephant
A dot-to-dot worksheet to practice counting to 100.
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Dot-to-Dot Drawing - Counting by 1 - Dove
A dot-to-dot worksheet to practice counting to 100.
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Dot-to-Dot Drawing - Counting by 1 - Arrow
A dot-to-dot worksheet to practice counting to 30.
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Numbers 21 -130 Chart - Missing Numbers From 80
A numbers 21-130 chart with missing numbers from 80 to encourage your students to count beyond 100.
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Numbers 21 -130 Chart - Missing Numbers
A 21-130 chart with missing numbers to encourage your students to count beyond 100.
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Pattern Activity Cards - Pencils
A set of 12 repeating pattern activity cards.
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Numbers 21 -130 Chart
A number 21-130 chart to encourage your student to count beyond 100.
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Dot-to-Dot Drawing - Counting by 3 - Kite
A dot-to-dot worksheet to practice counting by 3’s to 69.
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Dot-to-Dot Drawing - Counting by 2 - Anchor
A dot-to-dot worksheet to practice counting by 2’s to 120.
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Dot-to-Dot Drawing - Counting by 1 - Caterpillar
A dot-to-dot worksheet to practice counting to 100 by 1's.
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The Number Pattern Robot
A fun hands-on activity to help students identify addition and subtraction number patterns and their rules.
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Pattern Activity Cards - Sports
A set of 12 repeating pattern activity cards.
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Pattern Activity Cards - Shapes
A set of 12 repeating pattern activity cards.
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Pattern Activity Cards - Pirates
A set of 12 repeating pattern activity cards.
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Pattern Activity Cards - Little Red Hen
A set of 12 repeating pattern activity cards.
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Pattern Activity Cards - Fruit
A set of 12 repeating pattern activity cards.
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Pattern Activity Cards - Birds
A set of 12 repeating pattern activity cards.
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Number Patterns - Worksheet
A worksheet to use when completing number patterns.
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Number Sequencing to 1,000 - Worksheet
A place value worksheet to use when sequencing numbers from 100 to 1,000.
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Speckled Frog Activity
A game to use when learning to count to 5.
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Five Speckled Frogs - Poster
A poster to use when learning to count to 5.
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Skip Counting Robot Strips - 2s, 5s, and 10s
A set of 12 skip counting robot strips to help students learn to skip count by 2s, 5s, and 10s starting at any given number.
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1-10 Bug Counting Worksheet
A simple worksheet to help students with their counting skills.
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One, Two, Three, Four, Five - Counting Rhyme Poster
A counting rhyme to use when learning to count to ten.
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Number Grid Game
A number grid game to practice determining a number that is 1 more, 1 less, 10 more, and 10 less than a given number.
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Number Charts and Number Finder
A number chart and number finder template to use when learning to identify numbers that are 1 more, 1 less, 10 more, and 10 less than a given number.
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Dinosaurs - Numbers 1 to 100 Chart
A dinosaur themed hundreds board.
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Dot-to-Dot Drawing - Counting by 10 - Horse
A dot-to-dot worksheet to practice counting by 10’s to 620.
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Dot-to-Dot Drawing - Counting by 5 - Dinosaur
A dot-to-dot worksheet to practice counting by 5’s to 170.
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Number Patterns PowerPoint
A 12 page editable PowerPoint presentation to use as part of a numeracy lesson when teaching place value and number patterns to younger students.