Creating Patterns With Skittles {FREE Printable!}

As I mentioned earlier this week, teaching kids to explore, recognize and use patterns is an essential part of math education. While students will eventually learn to recognize patterns with numbers and tables and graphs, it’s important to start early with basic shapes and colors! And as I’ve mentioned before, what’s more fun than learning math with Skittles? 🙂 My kids had so much fun with these Skittles Pattern Cards, and even got busy coming up with their own patterns after they finished each of these!

I love these simple and free Skittles Pattern Cards! This is a great way for kids to work on recognizing patterns!

*Please Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and help support the work of this site. Read our full disclosure policy here.*

Materials Needed for Skittles Pattern Cards:

  • Printed cards (cut apart and laminated)
  • A variety of Skittles candies (although if you’re looking for a sugar free option, these pom poms would work great as well! 😉 )

I love these simple and free Skittles Pattern Cards! This is a great way for kids to work on recognizing patterns!

To Use Skittles Pattern Cards:

Simply distribute the pattern cards and place a handful of Skittles on the table. Then let the kids discuss the patterns they see and complete the cards!

Be sure to engage them in discussions while they work, and ask questions like, “What made you put an orange skittle next?” or “How do you know that is the correct pattern?”

I love these simple and free Skittles Pattern Cards! This is a great way for kids to work on recognizing patterns!

Once they’ve completed the pattern cards, have them come up with their own pattern and challenge each other to add the next 3 or 4 Skittles. See if they can make a pattern with all 5 colors, or who can make the longest chain without messing up or skipping something.

Included in this download are 12 different pattern cards, which consist of the following patterns:

  • ABAB
  • AABAAB
  • ABCABC

But once your kids have mastered these cards and patterns, let their imagination go wild and encourage them to create more complex patterns! Or if these seem too easy, come up with a more challenging pattern and see if they can add the next 3-4 Skittles.

I love these simple and free Skittles Pattern Cards! This is a great way for kids to work on recognizing patterns!

{Click HERE to go to my shop to download the FREE Skittles Pattern Cards!}

*This set of pattern cards has been updated and included in my huge Skittles Hands On Math Bundle! Get the entire set of Skittles Math activities for grades PreK-1st for just $3!* 

Skittles Math Lesson Bundle Sidebar ad

You might also like this set of 3D Shapes cards that include pattern cards, as well as several other game ideas for learning and exploring 3D shapes!

I love these simple and free Skittles Pattern Cards! This is a great way for kids to work on recognizing patterns!

What are some of your favorite ways to work on pattern recognition? The possibilities are endless!

Want more fun math with Skittles? Try one of these ideas:

37 Comments

    1. Yes, my kids get really excited when they see it’s time for “Skittles Math,” haha! I have to watch them really carefully though, and make sure they’re working and not just eating! 😉

  1. Help! Your Skittles patterning looks great but I am going around in circles to download it. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. Could you help me please? thanks

    1. Hi Dianne,

      When you click the link above, it takes you to my shop. Simply add the printable to the cart and check out and you will be given the link to the pdf. You will also be emailed a copy.

      It is free, though, so there’s no need to go through paypal or give credit card information.

      I hope this clarifies things!

      Bethany

  2. I so appreciate this! Can’t wait to do it with my kiddos. I do have one suggestion, though. In the 50 page printable, making the color and B&W sheets separate. Like, all the color stuff first and then the b&w stuff. That way when I go to print I don’t have to figure out which pages I need individually. I can just look and see that 25-50 is color so I’ll print that. Love this, thanks!

    1. Oh that’s a great point! Thank you for the feedback, I will definitely remember that in the future! 🙂 And I hope you enjoy the full printable set!

    1. Hi Lisa, Simply click the link above to go to my shop. Then click “add to cart” and complete the checkout process. You will be given immediate access to the pdf, as well as emailed a copy. Hope this helps! 🙂

  3. Hello Bethany:
    Somehow the Skittles Pattern will not download. I’ve been trying for a couple of days. Is is possible to email it to me? I wanted to do this project today as part of our St. Pats day celebration. I’m setting up a variety of stations for my students to work in.
    Thanks
    Barbara McCoy

  4. LOVE it, I’ll use it tomorrow with my fourth graders as a reintroduction to multiplications. I used brownies today and FOOD works, so I am sure this will work as good too!
    Thanks

  5. Pingback: Kim´s Blog
  6. Thank you so much for the pattern cards. I can’t wait to use these with my grade one friends.

Comments are closed.

Similar Posts