The Pattern Police: Additive is an engaging cut-and-paste activity that will challenge students to determine whether a set of images represents a pattern or not. In their role as a Pattern Police Officer, students will provide reasons for why an image is or isn’t a pattern, gluing them into the correct column.

Students will be required to count the number of sprinkles on a cupcake, chocolate chips on a cookie or sprinkles on a donut, to determine if the decorative aspects of these baked goods are increasing as a consistent pattern or not. Students may require time and space to do this working out.

The Pattern Police: Additive is a low-preparation activity; simply print and teach it. Versatile in its application, it can be used during a lesson, as part of a numeracy rotation, to gather evidence for assessment or pop in a relief folder. Three sets of patterns are included; each can be used with the main worksheet. We have included answer pages for your convenience.

It’s time for the Pattern Police to patrol some patterns!