🌟 Patterning and Algebra – Shrinking Patterns 🌟

Hello my dear student! I am Miss Brenda, your kind and caring Grade 4 math teacher 💕

Today we are learning about **Shrinking Patterns**! These are patterns that get smaller in a predictable way. They are the opposite of growing patterns and are very useful in math and real life!

📉 What is a Shrinking Pattern?

A shrinking pattern is a sequence where each number or shape is smaller than the one before it by following the same rule every time.

Most shrinking patterns subtract the same number each step.

🌟 Examples of Shrinking Patterns

Number Pattern:

25, 22, 19, 16, 13 ...
Rule: Subtract 3 each time
Shape Pattern:

Stage 1: 10 dots
Stage 2: 8 dots
Stage 3: 6 dots
Rule: Subtract 2 dots each stage

🔍 How to Find the Rule in Shrinking Patterns

  1. Look at the numbers or shapes
  2. Find the difference between each pair (subtract)
  3. Describe the rule (e.g., “Subtract 4 each time”)
  4. Use the rule to find the next smaller numbers
Tip from Miss Brenda: Always check two or three steps to be sure of the rule!

✏️ Let’s Practice Together, My Dear Student!

Practice 1: Find the Rule and Next Terms

1. 30, 27, 24, 21, ___ , ___
Rule: Subtract 3 → Next: 18, 15

2. 50, 45, 40, 35, ___ , ___
Rule: Subtract 5 → Next: 30, 25
Practice 2: Shape Patterns

Stage 1: 12 stars
Stage 2: 9 stars
Stage 3: 6 stars
Stage 4: ? stars

Rule: Subtract 3 stars each time → Stage 4 = 3 stars
Practice 3: Word Problems (Canadian Style)

1. You have 24 hockey cards. Each day you give away 4 cards to your friend. How many cards will you have on day 5?
Rule: Subtract 4 each day → Day 5 = 4 cards left

2. A big snow pile starts at 40 cm tall. It melts 5 cm every day. How tall is it after 4 days?
Rule: Subtract 5 → After 4 days = 20 cm
Challenge Question

The pattern is 100, 90, 81, 73, 66 ... What is the rule and what are the next two numbers?
Rule: Subtract 9, then 8, then 7... (decreasing by 1 more each time) → Next: 60, 55

Fantastic Job, My Dear Student! 🎉

You now understand Shrinking Patterns very well! Growing patterns get bigger and shrinking patterns get smaller — both help us predict and solve problems.

I am so proud of you. Look for shrinking patterns in real life — melting snow, spending allowance, or counting down days until vacation!

💕 You are smart. You are kind. You can do hard things.

When you are ready, tell me the next topic (Repeating Patterns, Pattern Rules, Algebraic Expressions, or anything else) and I will create another beautiful lesson just for you!