Prime students to recognize that mathematics is the search for patterns and explanations for why they exist.
Introduction to mathematics as the search for patterns.
Mathematics is, in large part, the search for patterns and the explanations as to why they exist. Such patterns exist all around us—in nature, in the motion of the sun, moon, and stars, and in everything from cooking to understanding weather patterns.
Visual collage showing stars, DNA, and architecture.
Understanding mathematical patterns allows us to travel to Mars, cure diseases, and build complex infrastructure.
Checklist of prerequisite skills.
Diagnostic questions on basic number continuation.
Look at this sequence of triangular numbers, which increases by adding the next counting number (). What comes next: ?
Concept: overview
Concepts
Students can map numerical sequences (square, triangular, cubes) to structural dot patterns.
Students can demonstrate how adding specific sequences generates entirely new sequence types.
Students can extract numerical sequences by counting structural properties (sides, lines, regions) of geometric progressions.
Synthesize the connections between visual arrangements, shape properties, and abstract number sequences.