CS: Patterns and Sequences: The Basics of Algorithms
Finding patterns and following simple step-by-step directions
CS: Patterns and Sequences: The Basics of Algorithms
Finding patterns and following simple step-by-step directions
CS - Grade K-1
- 1
Look at the pattern: red, blue, red, blue, red, __. Write the color that comes next.
Say the colors out loud from the start.
The next color is blue because the pattern repeats red, blue. - 2
Look at the pattern: star, star, heart, star, star, heart, __. Draw or write what comes next.
The next shape is a star because the repeating pattern is star, star, heart. - 3
Finish the number sequence: 1, 2, 3, 4, __.
Count on your fingers starting at 1.
The next number is 5 because the numbers count up by 1. - 4
A robot follows these steps: step forward, clap, step forward, clap. Write the next step.
The next step is step forward because the steps repeat step forward, clap. - 5
Put these morning steps in order by writing 1, 2, and 3: put on shoes, wake up, brush teeth.
Think about what you do first after sleeping.
A good order is 1 wake up, 2 brush teeth, and 3 put on shoes. - 6
Look at the pattern: circle, square, triangle, circle, square, __. Draw or write the missing shape.
The missing shape is triangle because the pattern repeats circle, square, triangle. - 7
An algorithm is a list of steps. Write one step you would do to wash your hands.
Think about what you do before using soap.
One step could be turn on the water, because washing hands follows steps in order. - 8
Find the mistake in this pattern: up, down, up, down, down. Write the word that should replace the last down.
The last word should be up because the pattern repeats up, down. - 9
Look at the picture pattern: apple, banana, apple, banana, __. Draw or write what comes next.
Look at the first item and the third item.
The next item is apple because the pattern repeats apple, banana. - 10
A robot needs to get to the star. The steps are move right, move right, move up. Draw arrows or write the steps in order.
The steps are right, right, up. The robot follows them in that order to reach the star. - 11
Finish the action pattern: clap, tap, tap, clap, tap, tap, __.
Group the actions into the same small pattern.
The next action is clap because the pattern repeats clap, tap, tap. - 12
Choose the better algorithm for making a sandwich. A: eat sandwich, put bread on plate, add filling. B: put bread on plate, add filling, eat sandwich. Write A or B and tell why.
B is the better algorithm because the steps are in the correct order: put bread on the plate, add filling, and then eat the sandwich. - 13
Look at the size pattern: small, big, small, big, small, __. Write the size that comes next.
Match each small with the word that comes after it.
The next size is big because the pattern repeats small, big. - 14
A bug is on a leaf. It jumps forward 1 space, then forward 1 space, then back 1 space. If it repeats, write the next jump after back 1 space.
Start the pattern again after the last step.
The next jump is forward 1 space because the repeating steps are forward, forward, back. - 15
Create your own repeating pattern using two colors or two shapes. Write or draw at least 5 items in your pattern.
One correct answer could be red, blue, red, blue, red. It is a repeating pattern because red and blue repeat in the same order.