Math Makes Sense Your child’s class is starting a mathematics unit on patterns and equations. Patterns occur in nature, art, and many everyday activities. They can be described using numbers, words, symbols and models. Equations are an important way of stating mathematical relationships. Analysing patterns and balancing equations are important skills that help develop your child’s number sense and algebraic reasoning.
In this unit, your child will: • Find a pattern rule for a number pattern. • Identify, extend, and create patterns. • Describe the same pattern in many ways. • Use patterns to solve problems. • Create a graph to represent a number pattern. • Preserve the balance in an equation by making the same change to each side of the equation.
Patterns occur in many forms. We find them in fabrics, price lists, growth charts, and sports schedules. By drawing your child’s attention to the patterns that occur in everyday life, you can help to foster her or his mathematical thinking.
