Post-it note patterns

This idea came from the Bakers and Astronaut Reggio-inspired blog. I started the children off with an AB pattern and encouraged them to continue it. It began left to right but the children gravitated to a vertical flow because it was easier for them to understand that yellow goes under blue and blue goes under yellow. 


Once they understood that, the post it notes flew! 

They filled the bottom half of the door:

Since they ran out of space on this door we moved to the other door and I offered the children their choice of colors:

Three colors was much more challenging, and they worked together to correct mistakes noticing when the pattern was off. 


Hopefully they will get the concepts of patterns soon and I can stand back and let them design their own creations out of color and shape. 

pattern matching on the light table

Many children come into my program not knowing what a pattern is or how to create one out of loose materials. I noticed that after a few days of being offered a tray of glass florist gems, starfish, and sea glass the children worked really hard manipulating the items but without a real sense of purpose. 


Since I can't be in every area all the time (I wish I could clone myself) I decided the activity could use a little structure. My solution was to trace a few starfish and gems into a simple pattern on a piece of transparency paper and leave it on the table for the children to work with. 

I wish I could have been there to document the finished pattern, but alas, it is what it is. 

patterning with natural(ish) materials

I was just reading Dialogue with Places, a Reggio Children Publication. I was inspired by the way they organized the materials for the children to use to create a gift for the Loris Malaguzzi International Center (similar to the photo below).

I thought materials organized like this would be enticing to the children so I set out a box of mostly natural materials for the children to pattern with along with some flat boards.

Here is a close up of the box which included wood chips, scrabble pieces, buck eyes, acorns, florist jewels, shells, rocks, sand dollars, tile spacers, mosaic tiles, and slate :

I encouraged the children to make patterns with the materials and to read them out loud to check their progress.
E(4):

M(3):

I also encouraged them to build vertical patterns as well:
K(4):

S(3):

T(3) with help:

They really enjoyed making patterns with these materials. E kept repeating how he loved making patterns. They were intrigued by the idea of vertical patterns. I think for the next experience we may try making curvy patterns as well.

The end!