Patterns and design

Alfie loves plants, and he loves beautiful patterns. You can help him make trees with patterns for the nursery.

Math awareness

At the nursery, the focus is on pattern formation, order and repetition. What is a pattern? Should any of them be repeated? Should they be in a certain order?

Materials

Dry pasta in various shapes and colours, coloured cardboard, glue

Activity

Make trees out of coloured cardboard. If necessary, make some dot lines to have a guide for the pattern. It could be circular, rays, rows or a grid, and you can choose to place the pasta on or between the lines.

Play/learn

Make your own nursery by mounting the trees on a common board. Are any of them similar? Are there any with the same amounts of pasta used? How many colours have been used? Is something being repeated?