Repeating Pattern - 2D Shapes and colour Threading

What’s included?

This download includes x1 A4, landscape pdf sheet, with 'square' shaped (paper/card) 2D shape beads.

What’s it for?

This resource has been designed for learners to become more familiar with 2D shapes and creating a repeating pattern. Learners will first need to consider which 2D shapes (and colours) to focus on and as the pattern develops think about which 2D shape/colour comes next. Whilst learners work on this activity they will also improve and develop their fine motor skills.

Who’s it for?

This resource has been designed for early years children and pupils in year one as well as older students needing additional learning support.

Resource Details

The layout includes x6 rows and x9 columns of square shaped beads each with a different coloured 2D shape. Beads are arranged in rainbow order to help guide and motivate learners in finding the next shape (and colour) in the pattern. This is an ideal activity to keep learners busy and independent.

2D shapes included are semi circles (pink), circles, (red), triangles (orange), diamonds (yellow), squares (green), rectangles (turquoise), stars (blue), pentagons (purple), hexagons (maroon). There are x6 beads of each shape.

Dotted guide line showing where to cut and punch a hole are included. The hole to punch is 4mm in size though a smaller hole punch could be used (to increase the fine motor skills challenge!)

These 2D shape beads will 'hang' from one corner once threaded - as the cover image demonstrates.

Learners will need a piece of string/ribbon/pipecleaner to thread their paper/card beads onto.

Differentiation

For more able learners let them decide which 2D shapes and colours to choose to create a repeating pattern of up to x9 2D shapes/colours. For those who are new to creating repeating patterns/find this tricky we recommend limiting the 2D shapes/colours learners are given, starting with just two and creating an alternate pattern initially. Once learners have been successful with two shapes/colours they can introduce additional shapes/colours to extend them.

Suggestions

We recommendation that these beads are printed onto card to improve their durability.

The square bead design makes the beads easy to prepare, requiring only straight cuts to separate them. We recommend cutting each row into strips of x9 2D shapes, punching holes along each strip then separating each 2D shape by cutting along the dotted lines. This is the most efficient way we have found!

Important message…

ANY issues with any of this please don’t hesitate to get in touch - we are happy to make changes.