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Patterns Day

Hello again! My name is Gemma and I am a children’s author, teacher and a mum. Patterns are all around us especially in nature. Today we are going to explore patterns we find in animals and create our own. We are very excited, shall we get started?

Snake Patterns

Sssssnakes have sssso many fassscinating patterns. Some are sssstripy, some ssspotty and some are extremely colourful! Can you create your own patterned snake out of playdough?

This activity will help your child to notice patterns in other animals and learn words to describe them. Manipulating play doh will help to develop your child’s gross motor skills.

Repeating Patterns

Many animals like zebra, leopard and dart frogs have bright, colourful patterns to protect themselves. Their patterns frighten their predators so that they leave them alone or they help them to hide. Try and make your own repeating patterns like we have.

This activity will help your child to notice patterns in other animals and learn words to describe them. Manipulating play doh will help to develop your child’s gross motor skills.

Giraffes are amazing animals with beautiful patterns that help them to camouflage. Use different materials to collage a giraffe using the outline provided below.

Giraffes are amazing animals with beautiful patterns that help them to camouflage. Use different materials to collage a giraffe using the outline provided below.

This activity will help your child to select materials and colours which will reflect the animal’s pattern. Talk about how important camouflage is for animals.

Butterfly Patterns

Of all the animals on Earth, butterflies are amongst the most beautiful. Have a look at the different types of butterflies in the video. Choose which coloured paint you would like and paint them on one side of a folded piece of paper. Fold again to reveal the beautiful butterfly design.

This activity will help your child to develop their creative colours. There will be opportunities to talk about the result of colour mixing, use the vocabulary introduced in this session about pattern and also to introduce the idea of symmetry.

Extension

If you want to do a bit more, try finding out about other animals who use pattern to protect themselves. Maybe even go for a walk and look for patterns in the world around you!

Tilly's Tights by Jude Lennon
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