🌟 Patterning and Algebra – Number Patterns 🌟

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

Today we are learning about **Number Patterns**! These are sequences of numbers that follow a special rule. They help us predict what comes next and are the beginning of algebra!

🔢 What are Number Patterns?

A number pattern is a list of numbers that follows a rule. The rule can be “add the same number each time”, “subtract the same number”, or even multiply or use other clever ideas.

📈 Common Number Patterns

1. Increasing (Growing) Pattern

4, 7, 10, 13, 16 ...
Rule: Add 3 each time
2. Decreasing (Shrinking) Pattern

50, 45, 40, 35, 30 ...
Rule: Subtract 5 each time
3. Multiplication Pattern

3, 6, 9, 12, 15 ...
Rule: Multiply by 3 (or add 3 repeatedly)

🔍 How to Find the Pattern Rule

  1. Write the numbers in order
  2. Find the difference between each pair of numbers
  3. If the difference is the same, that’s your rule!
  4. Use the rule to find missing numbers or the next numbers
Miss Brenda’s Tip: Always check at least 3 steps to be sure of the rule!

✏️ Let’s Practice Together, My Dear Student!

Practice 1: Find the Rule and Next Numbers

1. 8, 12, 16, 20, ___ , ___
Rule: Add 4 → Next: 24, 28

2. 45, 40, 35, 30, ___ , ___
Rule: Subtract 5 → Next: 25, 20

3. 2, 6, 18, 54, ___
Rule: Multiply by 3 → Next: 162
Practice 2: Fill in the Missing Numbers

1. 15, ___, 27, 33, 39
Missing: 21 (add 6 each time)

2. 100, 90, ___, 70, 60
Missing: 80 (subtract 10 each time)
Practice 3: Word Problems (Canadian Style)

1. You collect hockey cards. You have 7, 11, 15, 19... How many will you have on the 6th day?
Rule: Add 4 → 6th day = 27 cards

2. The temperature drops 3 degrees every hour. It is 22°C now. What will the temperature be after 5 hours?
Rule: Subtract 3 → After 5 hours = 7°C
Challenge Question

The pattern is 1, 4, 9, 16, 25... What are the next two numbers and what is the special rule?
36, 49 → These are square numbers: 1², 2², 3², 4², 5², 6², 7²

Fantastic Job, My Dear Student! 🎉

You now understand Number Patterns very well! You can find rules, fill in missing numbers, and predict what comes next.

I am so proud of you. Number patterns are everywhere — in calendars, sports scores, and even how plants grow!

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

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