Patterns in data — Data, 4–6 years
A pattern is something that repeats or follows an order in information. Spotting one helps us notice what may happen next, without pretending that every pattern is a rule.
A pattern can appear in data
When pieces of data repeat in an order, they make a pattern. For example, the recorded colours red, blue, red, blue follow a pattern. Patterns can help us notice links that are hard to see in one observation alone.
Why notice patterns?
People look for patterns because repeated clues can help them plan and ask better questions. A child who sees that the same cupboard is opened before snack time may predict where food will appear. A pattern is a clue, not proof that it will always continue.
Finding the next colour
Leo records the colours of beads: green, yellow, green, yellow, green. He looks from left to right and notices that green and yellow take turns. The next bead would probably be yellow, because that continues the pattern; he should still check the real bead.
A short pattern can trick us
With only two or three observations, many patterns seem possible. If you see red, red, you might expect another red, but the objects could then change to blue. That guess feels sensible because our brains like to continue what they have just seen.
Patterns help us prepare
A traffic light follows a repeating order, so people know when to stop and when to go. A daily routine can also make a pattern: coat, shoes, then the door. These patterns help us prepare, but real life can sometimes change them.
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