Pattern worksheets
What comes next? Find the rule and continue the row.
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Example
Kindergarten patterns, medium level: six rows to circle what comes next
A kindergarten teacher prints a centre activity: A mix of pictures, shapes and colours, level Medium (AAB, ABB, ABC), Circle the next one, In colour, 2 pages, answers on, worksheet number 1, US Letter. Page 1 comes out like this:
- Each row shows its rule at least one and a half times, and the empty box falls at a different place in the rule from row to row: row 4 stops after “boat, boat”.
- The three choices are three different things, the right one once. Wrong ones come from the row itself, plus one from outside when the row has only two things (the fish in row 3).
- Page 2 has six new rows; the answers follow on pages 3 and 4, with the box filled in and the right choice ringed in red.
- For a fresh set tomorrow, change the worksheet number to 2 and every row changes.
| Row | The row shows | Rule | Choices | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | green triangle, triangle, circle, triangle, triangle, ? | AAB | star, triangle, circle | circle |
| 2 | triangles: yellow, green, red, yellow, green, red, ? | ABC | green, yellow, red | yellow |
| 3 | bus, snail, snail, bus, snail, snail, ? | ABB | fish, snail, bus | bus |
| 4 | boat, boat, duck, boat, boat, ? | AAB | boat, broccoli, duck | duck |
| 5 | hearts: red, blue, blue, red, blue, ? | ABB | purple, red, blue | blue |
| 6 | blue star, circle, triangle, star, circle, triangle, star, ? | ABC | triangle, star, circle | circle |
pattern-worksheets.pdf, 4 pages: two worksheets with a name line and “Look at each pattern and circle what comes next.”, then their answers. With Outlines to colour, the colour rows print as white, black, grey, striped and dotted shapes instead.
How it works
- Choose pictures, shapes or colours, and the level.
- Choose whether children circle the next one or draw it themselves.
- Print — each sheet is new, and the answers follow.
Frequently asked questions
- Why are patterns important?
- Spotting and continuing a rule — red, blue, red, blue — is early maths and logic: the same thinking later helps with counting on, times tables and reading.
- Which level for which age?
- Easy AB patterns suit three- and four-year-olds; AAB and ABC patterns kindergarten; long patterns that change shape and colour at once are for five- and six-year-olds.
- Circle or draw?
- Circling one of three choices is easier for young children; drawing the next ones also trains the pencil.
- Are the answers included?
- Yes, at the end of the PDF: one answer page per sheet, in the same order, after all the sheets. Untick them for a clean print.
- What is an AB pattern?
- Two things taking turns: red, blue, red, blue. The easy level uses only AB; medium adds AAB (boat, boat, duck), ABB (bus, snail, snail) and ABC; hard adds AABB, ABCD, ABBC, growing patterns (one, two, three of a thing, then four) and rows where shape and colour each follow a rule of their own.
- How do I get a different worksheet?
- Change the worksheet number. The same settings and number always give the same sheets, so a class can share sheet 3 and its answers; another number gives new rows.
- Is anything uploaded?
- No. The worksheets are made in your browser.