Following, Extending and Creating Patterns!

Pattern boards and picture cards are a fun way to introduce children to patterning.  Identifying patterns is an important skill for reading.  Many patterns occur in words such as short vowel patterns, silent e patterns and vowel pairs.  Recognized patterns help children decode unknown words.  In the activity below, children are guided by small pictures on each pattern board.  As children reference the small pictures they become successful in placing the cards in the correct order. Proceeding activities promote extension and creation of patterns!

In addition to the pattern boards, have children complete the practice papers to extend and create patterns.  In the first two rows of each practice paper children are asked to circle the correct pictures to extend/complete the patterns.  In the last row they have the opportunity to create their own pattern. In the example below (right side) Jade created a yellow, blue, red pattern.  Another great activity is to place picture cards on popsicle sticks and have children manipulate the cards to create their own patterns! It's fun to see how many patterns can be created!

Below are practice pages to extend and create patterns

The first practice page is of fun brown, black and orange cats!

The second practice page is of delicious red, green and yellow apples!

The third practice page is of colorful blue, green and yellow  backpacks!

Pattern board for cats.

Pattern board for apples

Pattern board for backpacks.

Cat cards for patterning board and popsicle stick activities.

Apple cards for patterning board and popsicle activities.

Backpack cards for patterning board and popsicle activities.

Create a learning center.  Place magnets behind the back of apple, cat and backpack picture cards.  Have children create different patterns!

Extension Activity of Sequencing and Retelling

Awesome Book and Activities to Teach Letters and Sounds

My Awesome Alphabet Book by Thomas Nelson is a fun way to introduce letters and sounds. The book consists of letter shaped pages with illustrations and words beginning with each letter. The book is so much fun and loved by kids that I created mini books to extend this activity.  As I read each mini book, the kiddos listen and look at the illustrations to determine what sound and letter is being described. Each mini book gives examples of things that begin with the letter and things that do not.

There is a front cover, six pages and a last page. The templates are below: The book is as follows:

The top is the front page and the bottom is the last page (7).

Pages 1 and 2

Pages 3 and 4

Pages 5 & 6

Additional Activity: Draw or paste things that begin with the letter b.

Completed Activity: butterfly, bee, broccoli, bread, bat, bird and barn

Read and Predict the Meaning of Compound Words

A compound word is a word that is composed of two words such as cupcake.  It does not include words with prefixes such as unfair or words with suffixes such as helpful.  As children read more complex text they will use their recognition of known shorter words to read and predict the meaning of unknown compound words. In the activities below children will identify the two words that make up each compound word.  Activities promote word recognition, reading fluency, and comprehension of text.

Microsoft clip art was used for these activities.  For the activity below, magnetic tape was placed on the back of each clip art.  Next, compound words were printed.  Magnetic tape was placed on the back of each word.  The words were then cut separating each compound word into two words.  Children were then asked to put the two correct words together to make each compound word.

Next, have children write the two words needed to make each compound word.

Children should refer to the word bank to monitor their work.

Additional activity - cloze activity:

Dictate words to children and have them write the words.

Cards for compound word match game:

Video with Lesson Demonstration