Cumulative tales and rhymes illustrate growing patterns, typically an increase or decrease by one on each page. As the growing pattern is revealed through the story, children get excited because they can figure out “what comes next.”

From an early age, children notice and appreciate patterns in the world around them. Patterns and sequences of different kinds begin to pop up all over the place, especially in the books that children love.

This simple interaction between caregiver and toddler is a demonstration of very early mathematical concepts, or “precursor concepts.”

A child attempts to duplicate a pattern using colored blocks.

Teachers encourage children to describe the pattern in a favorite story book.

A student takes a look at a pattern of blocks of increasing quantity.

A student identifies a pattern of increasing quantity.

Joanne Mulligan shows a young student’s emerging understanding of the concept of “pattern.”