Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Christmas Pattern Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Christmas Pattern Cards is a free printable card set for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children say each repeating pattern aloud and work out what comes next. The patterns use Christmas pictures such as trees, stars, bells and snowmen, and colours such as red and green. It needs only paper and a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch task and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet cards that each show a short repeating pattern with a question mark where the next item should go. Some patterns use pictures, such as trees and stars. Others use colours, such as red and green. A few patterns repeat in a longer run, so children have to look and listen carefully. The cards are cut out and used with a grown up, who reads each one aloud and talks about it.
- tree, star, tree, star, ?
- bell, bell, star, bell, bell, ?
- red, green, red, green, ?
- snowman, tree, snowman, tree, ?
- star, tree, bell, star, tree, ?
- red, red, green, red, red, ?
Try a different pattern
gift, candle, gift, candle, ?
This example uses different pictures from the sheet. Use it to show your child how to work before they try the cards.
Method 1: say it and clap it- Say each picture in order: gift, candle, gift, candle.
- Clap once for each word. Listen for the beat that comes round again.
- Find the part that repeats: gift, candle. Say it again and stop at the gap.
- The last picture was a candle, so the repeat starts again with a gift.
- Use two toys or two colours of pencil. Lay them out in the same order as the pattern.
- Point to the first two items. Say, "This is the part that repeats."
- Keep going along the row, touching each item as you say it.
- Put the next item in the gap and say the whole pattern again.
Why start with patterns?
A pattern is something that repeats in a regular way. Children in Reception already see patterns everywhere, in stripes on clothes, in tiles on a floor and in the beat of a song. Spotting what repeats is one of the first steps in early maths, because it teaches children to look for order and to guess what happens next.
Christmas gives patterns a familiar setting. Decorations, paper chains and wrapping paper often repeat in a clear order, so children can link the cards to things they have seen at home or in class. Saying a pattern aloud and clapping it helps children hear the repeat as well as see it, which suits young learners.
Skills and curriculum link
- Spotting repeating patterns
- Saying what comes next
- Colour patterns
- Picture patterns
- Talking about maths
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Mathematics | Numerical Patterns | Reception |
What children will be able to do
- I can spot a repeating pattern.
- I can say what comes next.
- I can make my own pattern.
Ideas for helping with patterns
- Say it aloudSaying a pattern in a steady voice helps children hear when it starts again. Say each item with the same beat every time.
- Find the repeatAsk your child which part goes round and round. Once they can name that part, the gap is much easier to fill.
- Touch and pointPointing to each picture as you say it keeps eyes and voice together. It stops children skipping items or guessing too soon.
- Use real thingsToys, pencils or decorations make a pattern easy to see and move. Children can change a mistake without rubbing anything out.
Key words
- PatternSomething that repeats in the same order again and again.
- RepeatTo do or say something again.
- NextThe one that comes straight after.
- RhythmA beat that you can clap or tap.
- Colour patternA pattern made with colours instead of pictures.
- PredictTo think carefully about what will happen next.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read each card aloud and clap the rhythm of the pattern together.
- Work through the cards together the first time. Ask your child to point to each picture as you say it.
- Talk about each choice, then check against page 2. Ask, "How do you know?"
- Come back to the cards on another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Build the pattern with real items first, such as coloured pencils or toys. Lay them in a row and say the pattern aloud. Point to each one in turn, then ask what would come next. Try the shorter patterns before the longer ones.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to make up their own pattern for you to finish. Then swap, and let them check your answer. Try a pattern with three different items, or one that uses two colours and one picture.
Make it a game
Make patterns on the table with decorations, baubles or sweets. Take turns to start a pattern and let the other player add the next two items. Say the pattern aloud together at the end to check it.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child repeats the last item they saw instead of looking at the whole pattern.
Try thisSay the pattern from the very start and clap it. Ask which part goes round again, then say that part slowly.
Watch forA child chooses the item they like best rather than the one the pattern needs.
Try thisBuild the pattern with real items. Let them touch each one in order and see which item is missing.
Watch forA child gets lost when the pattern has a longer repeat.
Try thisCover the gap, say the pattern from the start and put a finger under each item. Then say the repeating part on its own.
Talk about it
- What can you see on this card?
- Can you clap this pattern for me?
- Which part goes round and round?
- What comes next, and how do you know?
- Can you make a pattern with different colours?
- Where have you seen a pattern at home or at school?
Take it off the page
Paper chain patterns
Cut strips of coloured paper and stick them into a chain. Make the colours follow a pattern, then ask a grown up to say what comes next.
Decoration row
Line up toys, decorations or building bricks in a repeating order. Close your eyes while a grown up changes one item, then find what is different.
Beat and clap
Make a pattern with claps, stamps and taps. Teach it to someone else and see if they can keep it going.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first card, then let them lead. Short sessions work well, and you can stop whenever your child has had enough. If they get stuck, ask them to build the pattern with toys.
Teachers
Use the cards as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. They link to the Numerical Patterns strand of EYFS Mathematics. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups. Check it against your own school plan.
Home educators
Print the cards as part of a wider maths plan. They pair well with picture books, craft and everyday talk about patterns around the house. Print them again for brothers and sisters, or to revisit a few weeks later.
Where patterns fit in
Before patterns, children sort and match things, and notice what is the same and what is different. They also practise counting and naming colours and shapes. These early skills make it easier to see what repeats.
After simple repeating patterns, children move on to longer and more complex patterns, and to number sequences. Later still, they meet counting in steps. Spotting a rule and using it to say what comes next is the idea behind all of these.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What comes next, and how do you know?
- What part repeats?
- Can you make a pattern with different colours?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Christmas Pattern Cards for?
It is written for Reception, which is ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Younger children can join in with a grown up, and older children can try the stretch idea on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise spotting and continuing simple repeating patterns. They say each pattern aloud, find the part that repeats and work out what comes next. They also talk about their thinking, which is an important part of early maths.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class, and use it again later to build confidence.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. If your child enjoys colouring, they can add colour to the pictures and talk about the pattern they have made.
- What if it feels too hard?
Build the pattern with real items first, such as coloured pencils or toys. Lay them in a row, say the pattern aloud and point to each item. Then go back to the card and try again.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting out, and page 2 gives support and stretch ideas.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It is a screen free printable that needs only paper and a pencil. It works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays, and it gets children talking, clapping and thinking together.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.