lesson
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Imagine you are making a bead necklace: red, blue, red, blue, red... what color bead should you pick next?
The Core Unit
Every repeating pattern is built from a small building block called the core unit.
The core unit is the shortest part of the pattern that repeats over and over without changing.
📊Interactive diagram
How do you find the core unit when a pattern has more shapes?
Finding the Secret Repeat
To find the core unit, say the names of the shapes out loud and listen for where the pattern restarts.
Let's chant this one: Circle, Triangle, Square — Circle, Triangle, Square.
📊Interactive diagram
Now that you can spot the core unit, how do you figure out a missing shape at the end?
Predicting What Comes Next
To extend a pattern, follow your core unit step by step until you reach the empty spot.