Presenting Patterning with SeeSaw

Students will:

• Be able to explain their thought process of creating a basic pattern.
• Be able to post their explanation to SeeSaw.

Vocabulary Words:

1. Tangram: A tangram is a wood or plastic shape used for learning.

2. AB Pattern: An AB pattern repeats itself every two shapes in a sequence.

3. ABC Pattern: An ABC pattern repeats itself every three shapes in a sequence.

4. AABB Pattern: An AABB pattern repeats two shapes at a time in a sequence.

To prepare for this lesson:

• Before the lesson, teachers must set up SeeSaw accounts for their classes and invite parents to join.

  • Please view the TEACHER video on using SeeSaw in the classroom. 

• Students should also know the basic features of SeeSaw.

  • Please view the following videos to decide how your students will access SeeSaw. Students can access it with email, a class code or a QR code. 

  •  Student sign-in using email

  • Get Students Started on Seesaw: Sign in with a code

• Here is a student video on how to use SeeSaw. 

• The SeeSaw app needs to be downloaded on student devices or bookmarked on computers.

• Teachers will need to have Tangrams available to students.

• Preview the video The Patterns Practice Song and decide if you want to show it or not to your students. 

Note: SeeSaw has many other tutorials on their website and Help Center. 

See the Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students website in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

1. Teach students about patterns.

2. Watch this video on a pattern song. 

3. Explain to students the three types of patterns with tangrams and show examples:

   1. AB Pattern- A pattern that repeats itself every two shapes in a sequence.

   2. ABC Pattern- A pattern that repeats itself every three shapes in a sequence.

   3. AABB Pattern- A pattern that repeats two shapes at a time in a sequence.

4. As you show each pattern, ask students to help decide what comes next, just like the song.

5. Use A, B, and C to label the patterns after you and your students have completed each sequence. Students will be asked to do this in their independent work.

6. Independent Work: Students take what they have learned about patterns and use Tangrams to demonstrate the three types of patterns. They should end up with all 3 patterns represented by shapes on their desk at once.

7. Once they have all three patterns on their desk, they will add a photo of their work to SeeSaw.

8. Students open the SeeSaw app and press the “+” sign, then select the camera icon to take a photo.

9. Next, students select the draw tool to label their pattern.

10. After labeling their patterns, students tap the microphone and explain their patterns.

11. When finished, students select the green check to add it to their journal.

12. Here is a photo of the steps to add and explain a photo in SeeSaw:

Different options for assessing the students:

• Observations
• Check for understanding
• Teachers can see what students have posted to their journal from the Teacher side of SeeSaw. They are able to leave feedback for students and intervene with any students who do not get the pattern concept.