Patterns and Algebraic Thinking (K-3)

Patterns and Algebraic Thinking


  1. A-Plus Math (Varsity Tutors)https://www.varsitytutors.com/aplusmath – Interactive math resources for teachers, parents, and students featuring free math worksheets, math games, math flashcards, and more. (The interactive worksheets also have a print option.)
  2. BetterLesson – Lesson ideas in the section called “Algebra”.
  3. Dad’s Worksheetshttps://www.dadsworksheets.com/ The worksheets below concentrate on patterns and algebraic thinking in some way. Take a look at the main website to see if there are other worksheets for the subject you are teaching.
    • Hundreds Charts – Every hundreds chart you could imagine! If you’re teaching basic counting, number sense or rounding, you can use a number chart like one of these to build math skills.
    • Number Lines – The number line PDFs on this page include various ranges (10, 12, 15, 20, 15 and 100) in both starting from zero as well as negative ranges.
    • Number Patterns – The number patterns worksheets for basic operations.
    • Arithmetic Sequences – Practice finding the common difference for a sequence of numbers or finding arbitrary nth terms in an arithmetic sequence given its formula definition.
  4. Development and Research in Early Math Education (DREME)http://prek-math-te.stanford.edu/patterns-algebra – Making sense of and describing patterns paves the way for early algebraic reasoning.
  5. Formative Loophttps://formativeloop.com/ – Provide Gr. 1-8 students with five-minute math drills each day. Daily exercises are generated for each day of the week and are based on individual student progress. View the reports to find out if any kids are struggling, and provide remedial instruction as needed.
  6. Gizmos https://www.explorelearning.com/ – Find the perfect Gizmo to get your students ready for success with Patterns and Algebraic Thinking in Grade 3. Manage your classes and assess your grade 3-12 students in one place. Make planning easy with customizable, expert lesson materials.
  7. Help Teachinghttps://www.helpteaching.com/free-math-worksheet-game-generators.htm – Quickly generate printable arithmetic worksheets for drilling and practice! Just set the difficulty, problem type, and number of questions desired, and generate a worksheet that can be downloaded or printed.
  8. iSmartboard.com – Use these Smart Board games, activities and lessons to learn about Adding, Subtracting, Number Facts, Whole Numbers, Patterning and Algebra. Note: Lots of ads to deal with on the page and everything is lumped into one listing.
  9. Khan Academyhttps://www.khanacademy.org/ – The most fundamental branch of math is having a clear idea on number sense and numeration. It consists of understanding place values and basic operations. 
  10. MathsChasehttps://www.mathschase.com/ – They use Al to suggest questions to best test your ability, and it will advance as you become more skilled. Has over a 100 different tests covering a huge range of maths skills for K-6 students. Monitor your progress and get awards for completing differents games and levels.
  11. Math Seedshttps://www.3plearning.com/software/mathseeds/ – Develops beginning numeracy skills with captivating activities covering number sense, addition, subtraction, and multiplication for K-4 students. Get the most out of class time with simple and teacher-friendly software.
  12. Mathsframe – There are both worksheets and games available for each section involving number sense below:
  13. Math Worksheets 4 Kidshttps://www.mathworksheets4kids.com/patterns.php – Picture pattern worksheets contain repeating pattern, growing pattern, size, shapes and color pattern, equivalent pattern, cut-paste activities and more. Number pattern worksheets contain reading patterns on number lines, showing the rule, increasing and decreasing pattern, writing the rules, geometric pattern, pattern with two-rules and more. 
  14. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) – Most of the very helpful classroom resources and activities are for members only but there are a few lessons and activities (through Illuminations) that can be aqccessed without a membership.
    • Creating, Describing, and Analyzing Patterns
    • Growing Patterns
    • Patch Tool – These square patches are then repeated and connected to produce a larger pattern. Create your own patch using the shapes in the tool.
    • Shape Tool – Create any geometric shape imaginable. (Can use this for tessellations.)
    • Dynamic Paper – Need a number line that goes from ‑18 to 32 by 5’s? Or a set of pattern blocks where all shapes have one-inch sides? You can create all those things and more.
    • Times Table – This tool allows you to practice multiplying single-digit numbers.
    • Tessellation Creator – A tessellation is a repeating pattern of polygons that covers a plane with no gaps or overlaps. What kind of tessellations can you make out of regular polygons?
    • Egg Carton Designs – Constructing Arrays to Begin a Study of Multiplication
    • Using the Factor Game Interactive
    • Bunny Times – Become confident in facts up to 12 x 12 using visual models that stress the conceptual aspects of multiplication.
    • Handshakes – In general, how many handshakes occur when there are n people?
    • Factorize – Visually explore the concept of factors by creating rectangular arrays.
  15. New South Wales Government – Education Patterns and Algebra section – Algebra is a branch of mathematics that deals with general statements of relations, utilising letters and other symbols to represent specific sets of numbers and values and their relationships to one another. Patterns are important in the early stages of the development of algebraic thinking. Some very good suggestions on how to attack these disciplines starting in the primary grades.
  16. NRICH (Number Patterns)https://nrich.maths.org/9944 and https://nrich.maths.org/9972 – The activities in this collection encourage children to create, recognise, extend and explain number patterns. Read the article for more information to find out why these particular tasks were selected.
  17. PBS Learning Media – K-8 Mathematics ranges from counting cardinal numbers to linear equations and functions. Students can review the calculation of area, find the area of combined shapes and can be assessed on their understanding using Khan Academy. Similar units can be created on topics such as lines and angles, probability models, and the multiplication and division of fractions. Make sure to use the filter to isolate the right grade.
  18. Reflex Math https://www.reflexmath.com/ – Using fact families and delivering the right facts at the right time for each individual student, it meets students where they are. It is adaptive and individualized to work for grades 2-6 students with different needs, skills and goals.
  19. Texas Instruments – This directory of K-5 resources will likely involve some form of Texas Instruments technology but the classroom activities certainly will be different from the normal process of teaching patterns and algebraic thinking.
  20. Times Tables Rock Starshttps://ttrockstars.com/ – It can be used in the classroom as whole-group instruction, a math center, or homework.  Multiplication facts can be assigned to the whole class or individual students and adjustments can be made in the student setup section. Both print worksheets or online interactions are available.
    Although there is a charge to use the actual program, the interactive tools tab is free
    and can be very useful in the classroom.
  21. Worksheet Genius – Ready-made worksheets in different areas of number sense:
    • Number Lines – These simple number lines focus on counting in steps of 2, 3, 4 etc. They support the student by supplying the first few numbers, so the pattern is simple to work out and then continue. Further down, the number lines focus on counting backwards and identifying links between numbers. They re-enforce both subtraction skills, recall and number bonds.
    • Addition – Counting On strategy, using place value, horizontal and vertical adding worksheets.
    • Addition with Pictures – Adding 2, 3 or 4 sets of numbers using pictures.
    • Subtraction – Counting Back strategy, using place value, horizontal and vertical subtracting worksheets.
    • Multiplication – Using place value, horizontal or vertical multiplying worksheets.
  22. WorksheetWorks – A collection of worksheet generators that provide various quick and easy worksheets when something is needed for K-6 students in a pinch.
    • Basic Math Facts – addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and mixed operations.
    • Basic Math Facts Activities – Basic math drills, word problem, integer sequences, magic squares, Math Maze, Mystery Number and Basic Operations bingo.
    • Beginning Math – Visual multiplication and division, addition with dice, number lines and more.
    • Math Tables – Addition and multiplication tables.
    • Multi-digit Operations – Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
  23. Xtra Mathhttps://home.xtramath.org/ – An online math fact fluency program that helps students develop quick recall and automaticity of their basic math facts. Students with a strong foundation of basic math facts will have an easier time when they begin to tackle more advanced math, like fractions or algebra.



Articles to Assist You…