Pattern Pants: Recognising & Creating Patterns Worksheets is a fun and flexible resource designed to help early learners build confidence in identifying, describing and creating repeating patterns using colour and shape. With its playful underwear theme and engaging visual layout, this activity captures student attention while developing key mathematical thinking skills.

Patterning is an essential part of early numeracy development. These worksheets provide an accessible way for students to explore the concept of repeating sequences, offering scaffolded support through simple templates as well as opportunities for open-ended creativity. Whether your focus is AB, AAB, ABB, ABC, or more complex variations, this resource can be adapted to suit the developmental needs of your learners.

Each worksheet invites students to use different colours to shade shapes in a patterned sequence across a row of pants. In addition to structured templates, a blank version is included, encouraging students to invent their own patterns using shapes, colours or a combination of both. This promotes flexible thinking and gives students the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in a creative and personalised way.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Recognise and describe simple repeating patterns (e.g. AB, ABB, AAB, ABC)
• ✅ Create and extend patterns using colour, shape and sequence
• ✅ Develop reasoning skills by predicting what comes next in a sequence
• ✅ Build fine motor control through colouring and shape work

What’s Included:

• Multiple patterned pants worksheet templates
• Blank version for open-ended pattern creation

Materials Needed:

• Printed worksheets (A4 or A3 for younger students)
• Coloured pencils, crayons or markers

How to Use:

• Begin by reviewing different types of patterns with the class (e.g. AB, AAB, ABC) using manipulatives or visuals.
• Model how to create a repeating pattern using two or more colours across the shapes on one row of pants.
• Provide students with a worksheet and ask them to replicate a pattern or invent their own using the blank version.
• Encourage students to explain their thinking or predict what would come next if the pattern continued.
• Display completed worksheets to reinforce visual recognition of common pattern structures.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Include in a numeracy rotation focusing on early algebra and sequencing
• 💡 Use as a warm-up task before introducing more abstract pattern rules
• 💡 Pair with physical patterning tasks using coloured blocks or counters
• 💡 Send home as a fun, confidence-building homework sheet for family learning

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Enlarge templates to A3 to support younger students or those working on pre-writing motor skills
• 💛 Prompt students to describe their patterns out loud to reinforce oral mathematical language
• 💛 Use the blank worksheet for assessment by asking students to create and label a new pattern type
• 💛 Try our Pattern Pants Craft for a more hands-on, creative extension

Pattern Pants: Recognising & Creating Patterns Worksheets is a must-have resource for early years patterning practise. With its cheerful design and rich learning opportunities, it’s perfect for developing confidence in sequence, order and creative problem-solving in the early years classroom.