Growing and Shrinking Patterns

Continue and describe 2, 5, 8, 11… and 20, 17, 14…, then make their own.

Warm-up, learn, try it together, practice, then a quick check. About 15 minutes.

What children learn in Level 8

Look at these numbers: 2, 5, 8, 11. Do you see a pattern?
Each number is 3 more than the one before. The rule is: add 3. It's a growing pattern!
So what comes next? 11 plus 3 is 14!
Now look at 20, 17, 14, 11. Each number is 3 less. The rule is: take away 3. It's a shrinking pattern!
What comes next? 11 minus 3 is 8.
You can make your own pattern too. Start at 4 and add 2 each time: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12!

Georgia's K-12 Mathematics Standards:

2.PAR.4.2 — Identify, describe, and create growing patterns and shrinking patterns involving addition and subtraction up to 20.