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Maths Adventures

Museum maths quest: patterns

A story-led junior maths adventure using artefacts, clues and history puzzles to continue repeating and growing patterns.

Quick answer

Patterns are repeating or growing sequences that help us predict what comes next and understand how things change. In a museum quest, you might find clues that follow a pattern, like a series of numbers, shapes, or colours, and solving the pattern helps you unlock the next room or artefact.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to spot, continue, and create repeating and growing patterns using objects, shapes, numbers, and symbols. Success signs:
  • You can identify a pattern in a sequence of objects or shapes
  • You can predict what comes next in a pattern
  • You can create your own repeating or growing pattern
  • You can explain how a pattern works using words or drawings

Why this matters

Patterns are all around us, and understanding them helps you solve puzzles, play games, and make predictions. In a museum, you might find clues that follow a pattern, like a sequence of numbers or shapes, and solving the pattern helps you unlock the next room. Patterns also help you learn multiplication, understand data, and even make music or art. When you see patterns in everyday life, you're using maths to make sense of the world.

How it works

Patterns are made of things that repeat or grow in a predictable way. There are two main types:
  • Repeating patterns have a group of items that repeat over and over again, like red, blue, green, red, blue, green.
  • Growing patterns have a rule that makes the pattern get bigger or smaller, like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and so on.

Examples you can see

Let’s explore how patterns work with some fun examples. Repeating pattern example: Imagine you are looking at a wall in the museum with tiles. You see:
  • Red tile
  • Blue tile
  • Green tile
  • Red tile
  • Blue tile
  • Green tile
This is a repeating pattern with the group "red, blue, green" repeating over and over. You can continue the pattern by drawing the next tile as green. Growing pattern example: You see a line of books in the museum display:
  • 1 book
  • 2 books
  • 3 books
  • 4 books
This is a growing pattern because the number of books increases by one each time. The next group would have 5 books. Shape pattern example: You find a row of shapes on an ancient tablet:
  • Circle
  • Square
  • Triangle
  • Circle
  • Square
  • Triangle
This pattern repeats the group "circle, square, triangle" again and again.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: Museum Maths Quest You are a young explorer in a mysterious museum. You have found a clue that leads to a hidden room. The clue is a pattern:
  • Yellow
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow
  • Blue
  • ?
Your mission is to figure out what colour comes next to open the door. What is the pattern? What is the next colour? Answer: The pattern is yellow, blue, green, and it repeats. The next colour is green. You can continue the pattern:
  • Yellow
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Yellow
  • Blue
  • Green

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking that the pattern changes halfway through. Why it happens: Sometimes the pattern looks similar but isn’t exactly the same. Fix: Look carefully at the group that repeats and check if it is exactly the same each time.
  • Mistake: Not noticing that the pattern is growing instead of repeating. Why it happens: You might count the items and think they are the same, but they are increasing. Fix: Look for a rule that makes the pattern get bigger or smaller, like adding one more each time.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to look at the beginning of the pattern to find the group. Why it happens: You might jump to the end and guess what comes next. Fix: Start at the beginning and find the repeating group or the rule for growing.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child understand patterns by:
  • Looking for patterns in everyday life, like the tiles on the floor, the seasons, or the days of the week
  • Using simple repeating patterns with objects like blocks or toys to make a pattern together
  • Encouraging your child to say out loud what comes next in a pattern
  • Playing pattern games like "What comes next?" or "Can you make a pattern with shapes?"
  • Noticing when your child makes a mistake and gently guiding them back to the group or rule

Practice questions

  1. What comes next in this pattern: red, blue, yellow, red, blue, yellow, red, blue, ?
  2. Continue this growing pattern: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, ?
  3. What is the next shape in this pattern: circle, square, triangle, circle, square, triangle, circle, ?
  4. Complete the pattern: 2, 4, 6, 8, ?, ?
  5. What is the next number in this pattern: 10, 20, 30, 40, ?
Answers:
  1. Yellow
  2. 11
  3. Square
  4. 10, 12
  5. 50

FAQ

What is a pattern in maths?

A pattern is a sequence of numbers, shapes, or objects that follow a rule. The rule tells us how the pattern repeats or grows.

How do I find a pattern?

Look at the first few items in the sequence. If they repeat, it’s a repeating pattern. If they get bigger or smaller, it’s a growing pattern. Then figure out the rule that makes it happen.

Can patterns be made with anything?

Yes! Patterns can be made with colours, shapes, numbers, sounds, actions, and even words. You can make a pattern with your steps, clapping, or jumping.

Why are patterns important?

Patterns help us predict what comes next, solve puzzles, understand data, and even make music or art. They are a key part of learning maths and thinking logically.

How can I practice patterns at home?

You can make patterns with toys, draw patterns, count by twos or fives, or even make a pattern with your daily routine. Try to find patterns in nature, like leaves on a tree or waves at the beach.