Creating Patterns with Legos

Using Legos [or other blocks for that matter] to make patterns have been on my mind since I collected a bunch of ideas for blocks, and found Rockabye Butterfly’s Lego patterning activity.

So, one day when the boys and I were playing with our Legos, I started creating a pattern [An AAB pattern, I've been told by Henry's preschool teacher that he's understanding patterns, so I didn't want to do just ABAB. A year ago was a different story though.].

I casually talked about what I was doing while the boys were still doing their own thing.

“Yellow, yellow, red. Yellow, yellow, red.”

“I’m making a pattern…”

“Yellow, yellow… what comes next?”

After a little bit, Henry started answering, “Red!”

So, I handed him my block pattern tower and asked him to keep the pattern going. Leading him along the way, saying the pattern over and over and asking what comes next.

He added to it, continuing the pattern well… until…

Well, he changed it up a bit and I asked if that’s what comes next in the pattern….

Henry’s response:

“This city has gone crazy!”

Don’t ask me. I don’t know.

But, what I found that was really interesting was that when he did this, he continued his own pattern.

Red, red, red, yellow. [Making an even tougher pattern, AAAB]

And you wonder what George is up to during our fun activities?

Check it out. This is pretty typical George.

I’m continuing on with this block learning activity over at A Mom with a Lesson Plan. After building his pattern tower, Henry did a little measuring with it too!

Check out my guest post over there: Measuring with Legos.

Blocks are so versatile!