1. Finding Patterns

Pattern: Something that repeats in a regular, predictable way. When you know the rule of a pattern, you can predict what comes next.

Where Can You Find Patterns?

Where	Examples
Shapes and Colors	circle, square, circle, square... or red, red, blue, red, red, blue...
Numbers	2, 4, 6, 8 (add 2) or 5, 10, 15, 20 (add 5) or 1, 2, 4, 8 (double)
Nature	Snowflake symmetry, honeycomb hexagons, sunflower spirals, zebra stripes
Music	Beats (tap tap tap), rhythms (long short short), chorus that repeats

How to Find the Rule

What repeats? Look for a group that shows up more than once.
How long is the repeating part? Is it 2 items? 3 items? More?
Can you predict what comes next? If yes, you found the rule!

Fun Fact: Honeybees build their honeycombs using hexagons (six-sided shapes) because hexagons fit together perfectly with no gaps and use the least amount of wax possible. Nature found the best pattern!

2. Completing Sequences

Three Pattern Skills

Skill	What It Means	Example
Fill in the blank	Find the missing piece in the middle of a pattern	3, 6, ___, 12 (answer: 9)
Extend	Figure out what comes next	10, 20, 30, ___ (answer: 40)
Create	Make up your own pattern with a rule	You decide the rule!

Types of Number Patterns

Type	Rule	Example
Adding	Add the same number each time	3, 6, 9, 12, 15 (add 3)
Subtracting	Subtract the same number each time	50, 45, 40, 35 (subtract 5)
Doubling	Multiply by 2 each time	1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 (double)
Halving	Divide by 2 each time	128, 64, 32, 16, 8 (halve)
Fibonacci	Add the two previous numbers	1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 (1+1=2, 1+2=3...)

Strategy: When there is a blank in the middle, look at the numbers on BOTH sides of the blank to figure out the rule.

Fun Fact: The Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21...) shows up all over nature! Sunflower seed spirals, pinecone scales, and seashell curves all follow this famous pattern.

3. Why Patterns Matter

Pattern Recognition: The ability to notice similarities, repeating elements, or rules in information. It helps you make predictions and solve problems faster.

Loop: An instruction that tells the computer to repeat something a certain number of times. Loops save programmers from writing the same instructions over and over.

The Power of Loops

Without a loop (the long way):
Step forward. Step forward. Step forward. Step forward. Step forward.
That is 5 separate instructions.

With a loop (the short way):
Repeat 5 times: Step forward.
That is 1 instruction! Same result, much less work.

Sorting and Grouping

Sorting: Organizing things by a rule (by color, size, type, date, etc.)

Grouping: Putting things together that share something in common.

Computers sort and group things all the time: emails by date, songs by artist, search results by relevance, photos by location.

How Computers Use Patterns

Autocomplete: Predicts words as you type based on patterns in what people usually write
Spam filters: Spots junk email by recognizing common spam patterns
Music recommendations: Suggests songs based on patterns in what you listen to
Weather forecasts: Uses patterns in temperature, wind, and pressure to predict weather

4. Patterns in Scratch

The Repeat Block

Repeat Block: A Scratch block (in the Control category, orange) that runs the blocks inside it a set number of times. It is a loop.

Drawing with the Pen

Block	Category	What It Does
pen down	Pen (green)	Sprite draws a line wherever it moves
pen up	Pen (green)	Sprite moves without drawing
erase all	Pen (green)	Clears all drawings from the stage
set pen color	Pen (green)	Changes the drawing color
change pen color by	Pen (green)	Shifts the color a little bit (great for rainbow effects)
set pen size	Pen (green)	Changes how thick the line is
stamp	Pen (green)	Leaves a copy of the sprite on the stage

To add pen blocks, you must click the blue "Add Extension" button in the bottom-left corner and select "Pen."

Shape Formulas

To draw any regular shape, use this formula: Turn angle = 360 / number of sides

Shape	Sides	Repeat	Turn Angle
Triangle	3	repeat 3	turn right 120 degrees
Square	4	repeat 4	turn right 90 degrees
Pentagon	5	repeat 5	turn right 72 degrees
Hexagon	6	repeat 6	turn right 60 degrees
Octagon	8	repeat 8	turn right 45 degrees
Circle	360	repeat 360	turn right 1 degree

Fun Fact: A circle is really just a shape with so many sides that you cannot tell them apart! In Scratch, "repeat 360: move 1 step, turn 1 degree" draws a circle by making 360 tiny straight lines.

Vocabulary Words

Word	What It Means
Pattern	Something that repeats in a predictable way
Rule	The instruction that tells how a pattern works (like "add 3" or "double it")
Pattern Recognition	Spotting similarities or repeating elements in information
Loop	An instruction that repeats something a certain number of times
Repeat Block	The Scratch block that creates a loop
Sorting	Organizing things by a rule (by color, size, type, etc.)
Grouping	Putting things together that share something in common
Pen Down	Start drawing (like putting a marker on paper)
Pen Up	Stop drawing (like lifting the marker)
Stamp	Leave a copy of the sprite on the stage
Fibonacci Sequence	A pattern where each number is the sum of the two before it (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8...)

Key Reminders

1. A pattern is something that repeats in a predictable way.
2. Every pattern has a rule that explains how it works.
3. Pattern recognition means spotting what repeats or what things have in common.
4. A loop repeats instructions. In Scratch, use the "repeat" block.
5. Loops save work by avoiding repeated instructions.
6. To draw a shape: turn angle = 360 divided by the number of sides.
7. Add the Pen extension to use drawing blocks in Scratch.

Module 2: Patterns Everywhere -- Study Guide

Think Like a Coder -- Kids Coding Course -- Safaa Dabagh -- sdabagh.github.io

Module 2 Study Guide