Minds On

Saturn’s patterns

Materials Needed

Materials needed

The materials needed for this activity are:

  • toys (e.g., stuffed animals, mini figurines, dolls, etc.)
  • paper
  • crayons
  • building blocks or objects that stack

Examine the following image and answer these three questions.

A planet with land, water, and clouds.
  • What is it?
  • Do you know the name of the planet we live on?
  • Do you know the names of some of the other planets?

Record your thoughts.

If possible, share with a partner.

Saturn

Explore this video entitled "Saturn" to learn more about the planet Saturn. Then you can answer two questions about the planet!

What is special about the planet Saturn?

What is special about the rings on Saturn? Can you explain what a pattern is?

Record your thoughts. If possible, discuss with a partner.

As you work through this learning activity, you can record your ideas in many ways.

Access the following audio recording to learn more about how to record your ideas.

How to Record Your Ideas

Action

Making patterns

If you have crayons and markers and you put one crayon, then a marker, a crayon, then a marker, a crayon, then a marker and so on, then you have created a pattern.

A pattern is a design that is repeated over and over again.

Here are some examples of different patterns:

Make your own pattern

Collect toys or items in your learning space to make a pattern. Your items can be items like stuffed animals, mini figurines, dolls, or playdough.

Stuffed animals in a pattern line. The pattern is duck, duck, goose.

Try making different patterns.

Share your patterns with a partner, if possible.

Pattern core

When you are repeating the same thing, over and over again in a pattern, like “Car, Truck,” we call that part of the pattern the core of the pattern.

Let’s explore some examples.

Pattern 1 has the pattern red circle, blue triangle, red circle, blue triangle, red circle, blue triangle. The red circles are labelled "A" and the blue triangles are labelled "B". The pattern core is red circle, blue triangle.

Pattern 2 has the pattern green circle, green circle, purple triangle, green circle, green circle, purple triangle. The green circles are labelled "A" and the purple triangles are labelled "B". The pattern core is green circle, green circle, purple triangle.

In the pattern, red apple, yellow banana, yellow banana, red apple, yellow banana, yellow banana, what is the core of the pattern?

A pattern of fruits. The pattern is: red apple, yellow banana, yellow banana, red apple, yellow banana, yellow banana.

If we described the core of this pattern with letters, the pattern would be called “ABB” type.

A pattern of fruits. The pattern is: red apple, yellow banana, yellow banana, red apple, yellow banana, yellow banana. The pattern core is red apple, yellow banana, yellow banana. It is surrounded by a square to show that it is the pattern core, and the fruits are labelled "A B B"

Multiple choice

Let’s find the core of this pattern.

Select the correct answer, then press ‘Check Answer’ to see how you did.

Consolidation

Build a pattern tower

A child builds a town in their room.

Build a pattern tower using blocks or objects that you can stack. We call a stacked pattern a pattern tower.

Draw a picture of the tower you build, write a description, take a photograph, or record a description.

  • What is the core of the pattern?
  • Can you name the core of this pattern with letters?

Record your thoughts. If possible, share with a partner.

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Press the button next to the sentence that matches how you feel.

I feel…