Virginia SOL 1.PFA.1.b
The Standard
Analyze a repeating or increasing pattern and generalize the change to extend the pattern using objects, colors, movements, pictures, or geometric figures.
Virginia Standards of Learning for Mathematics · The student will identify, describe, extend, create, and transfer repeating patterns and increasing patterns using various representations.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students examine a pattern, explain what repeats or how it grows, and use that rule to add the next parts. They work with objects, colors, movements, pictures, and shapes.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student identifies the full repeated unit or states how much a growing pattern changes each step. The student extends the pattern correctly and explains the rule with words or actions.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may copy the last item instead of finding the repeated unit. They may add different amounts to a growing pattern. Some focus only on color and miss changes in number, shape, size, or movement.
How to Assess It
- Give each student two strips: red-blue-red-blue and groups of one, two, then three dots. Ask students to add two steps and explain each rule.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs cubes to build an AB, AAB, or growing staircase pattern, then swap builds and add two correct steps.
Show a pattern with one missing step and ask, "What belongs here, and what rule proves your answer?"
Play Pattern Relay: teams draw a card, extend its color, shape, or movement pattern twice, and earn a point for explaining the rule.
Have students find a pattern on clothing, floor tiles, or classroom borders, sketch it, and label the part that repeats.
Free download
Printable 1.PFA.1.b Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 1.PFA.1.b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetKeep exploring
Related Standards
- 3.PFA.1.b
Analyze an increasing or decreasing pattern and generalize the change to extend the pattern or identify missing terms using various representations.
- 2.PFA.1.c
Create a repeating or increasing pattern using various representations (e.g., objects, pictures, numbers).
- 2.PFA.1.b
Analyze a repeating or increasing pattern and generalize the change to extend the pattern using objects, pictures, and numbers.
- 1.PFA.1.c
Create a repeating or increasing pattern using objects, pictures, movements, colors, or geometric figures.
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.