An important part of our S.T.E.M. curriculum at CEFA Early Learning schools is working with patterns. Understanding patterns is a foundational math skill.
Best Ages for This Activity
Three to five
How to Make It
You Will Need
Optional
- A laminator
- One sheet of laminating paper
Let’s Get Started
- Print one copy of the game on cardstock paper
- Cut the last row of animals (the ones with the dotted line around them) from your printed game, like this:
- Invite your child to complete the patterns on the sheet, using the four little animals you cut. If your child has difficulty, you can help by asking them to tell you what they see, then what comes next, and what comes next, etc. until they understand the pattern.
Learning Opportunities
Children will learn S.T.E.M., especially in the area of mathematics. In this game, the greatest learning opportunities are in reasoning, comparison and prediction. As always, the use of mathematical vocabulary greatly enriches these activities.
This activity also encourages your child to focus and stay on one task (increases attention span) which contributes to your child’s social and emotional development.
CEFA tip: Although patterning can be a great activity for your child to do alone (once the concept is clear), remember that at this age, children must always be supervised.
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