Lesson 2: Patterns in Numbers

Say, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5...what comes next? How do you know this? Do numbers have patterns? Let's review counting by 2s." Tell your child to sit down and stand up or raise a hand for every other number: Sit for 1, stand/raise hand for 2, sit for 3, stand/raise hand for 4 and so forth as long as she wants to count.

Show your child the laminated number line. Ask her to point to each number as you count by 2s together (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20). If needed, model pointing to and skipping every other number.

Ask: "Can you show how to count by 5s on this number line? What numbers do you come to when you count by 5s?" Direct your child to use a dry-erase marker to circle the numbers as she counts by 5. (5, 10, 15, 20)

Ask: "What other numbers can you count by on this number line?" Clean the number line and allow your child to play with counting by different numbers. Be sure she is pointing to and circling the correct numbers while doing so. (answers will vary)

Show your child one of the laminated number grids. Ask: "How is this like a number line? How is it different?" Direct your child to cut out rows along the dotted lines from the "1-100 Number Grid" activity page and place them end-to-end to create a number line showing 1 to 100. Note how long the number line is. Pose the questions again: "How is a number grid like a number line? How is it different? Do you have any new ideas about number lines and number grids? Do you think we can count number patterns on a number grid just like we did on the number line?"

Using a laminated number grid and a dry-erase marker, ask your child to color every number she comes to when counting by 2. Observe to make sure she colors the correct numbers. Ask, "What do you notice about the numbers you colored?" (Accept all answers. Listen for responses like "They all end in 2, 4, 6, 8, 0." "They're in rows going up and down/columns." "They line up.")