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Math Grade K-1 Answer Key

Identifying and Extending AB and ABB Patterns

Practice finding what comes next in repeating patterns

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Identifying and Extending AB and ABB Patterns

Practice finding what comes next in repeating patterns

Math - Grade K-1

Instructions: Look at each pattern carefully. Decide if it is an AB pattern or an ABB pattern. Then write or draw what comes next.
  1. 1

    Look at the pattern: red, blue, red, blue, red, ___. What color comes next?

    Say the colors out loud from the beginning.

    Blue comes next because the pattern repeats red, blue.
  2. 2

    Look at the pattern: star, heart, heart, star, heart, heart, ___. What shape comes next?

    A star comes next because the pattern repeats star, heart, heart.
  3. 3

    Is this an AB pattern or an ABB pattern? cat, dog, cat, dog, cat, dog

    Look for the part that repeats again and again.

    This is an AB pattern because it repeats cat, dog.
  4. 4

    Is this an AB pattern or an ABB pattern? clap, stomp, stomp, clap, stomp, stomp

    This is an ABB pattern because it repeats clap, stomp, stomp.
  5. 5

    Finish the pattern: circle, square, circle, square, circle, ___

    The pattern changes back and forth between two shapes.

    Square comes next because the pattern repeats circle, square.
  6. 6

    Finish the pattern: green, yellow, yellow, green, yellow, yellow, green, ___, ___

    Yellow and yellow come next because the pattern repeats green, yellow, yellow.
  7. 7

    Write the next two sounds in the pattern: beep, buzz, beep, buzz, beep, buzz, ___, ___

    Start again after buzz.

    Beep and buzz come next because the pattern repeats beep, buzz.
  8. 8

    Write the next three shapes in the pattern: triangle, circle, circle, triangle, circle, circle, ___, ___, ___

    Triangle, circle, and circle come next because the pattern repeats triangle, circle, circle.
  9. 9

    Draw an AB pattern using two different shapes. Make at least 6 shapes.

    Pick two shapes and repeat them in order.

    An example answer is circle, square, circle, square, circle, square. It is an AB pattern because two shapes repeat in the same order.
  10. 10

    Draw an ABB pattern using one sun and two moons. Make at least 6 pictures.

    An example answer is sun, moon, moon, sun, moon, moon. It is an ABB pattern because one sun is followed by two moons, and that group repeats.
  11. 11

    Find the missing item: apple, banana, banana, apple, ___, banana

    Compare the first three items with the last three items.

    Banana is missing because the pattern repeats apple, banana, banana.
  12. 12

    Find the missing item: black, white, black, white, ___, white

    Black is missing because the pattern repeats black, white.
  13. 13

    Circle the group that repeats in this pattern: fish, crab, crab, fish, crab, crab

    The repeating group starts at the beginning and then starts again.

    The repeating group is fish, crab, crab. This makes an ABB pattern.
  14. 14

    Circle the group that repeats in this pattern: leaf, flower, leaf, flower, leaf, flower

    The repeating group is leaf, flower. This makes an AB pattern.
  15. 15

    Make the pattern longer: orange, purple, purple, orange, purple, purple, ___. Write the next 4 colors.

    After orange comes two purples.

    The next 4 colors are orange, purple, purple, orange because the pattern repeats orange, purple, purple.
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