A pattern is something that repeats: apple, star, apple, star. Noticing the repeat and saying what comes next is one of the first ways children reason about order, and it is the same habit that later helps with counting by twos, reading rhythms in words and spotting rules in numbers. These worksheets practice it with pictures a child already knows.

Every row shows a pattern repeated at least twice, then an empty box with a question mark. To the right of the row are three pictures; the child says the pattern out loud, finds the one that fills the box, and circles it. "AB" is the simplest kind — two pictures taking turns. "AAB" and "ABB" repeat one picture twice, and "ABC" uses three different pictures, so the child has to keep a longer unit in mind.

Choose which kinds go on the sheet with Patterns: AB only, AB with AAB and ABB, or all of them. Click any row to change its kind, lock the rows you like, and press New sheet for the rest. The answer key prints on a second page only when you ask for it. Nothing to sign up for.

12 ready-to-print sheets

• What comes next · AB patterns · 4 questions
• What comes next · AB patterns · 5 questions
• What comes next · AB patterns · 6 questions
• What comes next · AB patterns · 5 questions · set 2
• What comes next · AB, AAB, ABB · 4 questions
• What comes next · AB, AAB, ABB · 5 questions
• What comes next · AB, AAB, ABB · 6 questions
• What comes next · AB, AAB, ABB · 5 questions · set 2
• What comes next · All patterns · 4 questions
• What comes next · All patterns · 5 questions
• What comes next · All patterns · 6 questions
• What comes next · All patterns · 5 questions · set 2