Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Pattern Train Tickets: Free Printable Worksheet for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Pattern Train Tickets is a free printable maths worksheet for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children look at a train of shapes, ring the chunk that repeats, then draw it again to carry the pattern on. They also colour circles and make a pattern train of their own.
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 pattern trains made of shapes. They look carefully at each carriage, find the chunk that repeats and ring it. Then they draw the next chunk to continue the train. There is a short colouring task with circles, and a space at the end to design a pattern train of their own by drawing a chunk and then drawing it again.
- Train
- Draw the next chunk
- Colour 3 circles
- Make your own train. Draw a chunk, then draw it again.
Build the pattern first
Use real objects
Line up blocks, toy cars or coloured pegs in a repeating pattern. Touch each one as you say its name. Handling real things makes the idea of a repeat easier to see on paper.
Say it like a train
Chant the shapes in a steady beat, like a train chugging along. The rhythm helps children hear where the chunk starts again.
Ring, then draw
On the sheet, ring the chunk first. Then draw it again slowly, one shape at a time, saying each name as you go.
Swap and check
Make a short train for your child to continue. Then let them make one for you. Ask them to show you the chunk that repeats.
Why patterns matter in Reception
A pattern is something that repeats in a way you can predict. Children meet patterns every day in stripes on clothes, tiles on a floor, songs with repeating lines and the days of the week. Spotting them helps children notice order and make sensible guesses about what comes next.
In early maths, pattern work is a first step towards seeing how numbers and shapes are organised. Children learn to look closely, find the part that repeats and continue it. A train is a friendly way to do this, because the carriages sit in a clear line and children can follow them from left to right.
Skills and curriculum link
- Spotting patterns
- Continuing a repeat
- Counting to 3
- Naming shapes
- Careful drawing
- Pencil control
Ideas to help you talk about patterns
- Patterns repeatA pattern has a part that comes round again and again in the same order. Finding that part is the key to the whole pattern.
- Patterns are everywhereLook for patterns on wallpaper, fabric, railings, pavements and in music. Pointing them out helps children spot them on the page.
- Order mattersThe same shapes in a different order make a different pattern. Talk about what changes when the order changes.
- Patterns can be made in many waysShapes, colours, sounds and movements can all make patterns. A clap, clap, stamp is a pattern too.
Key words
- PatternSomething that repeats in the same order.
- RepeatTo do or make the same thing again.
- ChunkThe part of a pattern that repeats.
- CarriageOne part of a train. On the sheet, each carriage holds a shape.
- ShapeA flat form with a name, such as a circle.
- NextThe one that comes straight after.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself, as it has the notes and answers.
- Read the words aloud. Point to each carriage and say the shape names together before your child rings the chunk.
- Work through the activity together the first time. Talk about each choice and ask, "How do you know?"
- Check against the notes and answers on page 2. Praise careful looking as well as right answers.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Cover all but the first chunk with a card. Say the shape names in time, like a train chugging. Slide the card along one carriage at a time so your child can hear when the names start again.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to make a train with a chunk of four shapes. Then ask them to explain which bit repeats and why. They could also swap trains with a friend and ring each other's chunk.
Make it a game
Build the trains with real blocks first. Then clap the chunk 3 times while colouring each circle. Take turns to build a short train for someone else to continue with more blocks.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child rings only one shape instead of the whole chunk.
Try thisSay the shapes in order and stop where the names begin again. Show that the chunk is everything before the repeat starts.
Watch forA child draws the next shapes in a different order.
Try thisPoint to each shape in the ringed chunk as they draw. Say the names aloud together, one at a time.
Watch forA child rings a different part of the train each time.
Try thisAsk them to find where the first shapes come round again. Use a finger or a card to mark the start.
Talk about it
- What shapes can you see on the train?
- Which part comes round again?
- What do you think comes next, and why?
- Can you clap the pattern?
- Where have you seen a pattern at home or outside?
- What shapes would you choose for your own train?
Take it off the page
Pattern walk
Go round the house or street and look for patterns. Point out stripes, tiles, fences and windows. Say which part repeats.
Snack trains
Line up pieces of fruit or pasta shapes in a repeating pattern on a plate. Say the pattern aloud, then continue it.
Action patterns
Make patterns with your body, such as clap, stamp, clap, stamp. Take turns to start one and ask the other to carry it on.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Short, relaxed sessions work best. If they get stuck, build the pattern with toys and talk about it.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider maths plan. It pairs well with outdoor play, picture books and everyday talk about patterns. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or to revisit later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this, children enjoy sorting and matching objects, and noticing things that are the same and different. They also hear and join in with songs and rhymes that repeat.
After this, children can try longer or trickier patterns, including ones with more than one kind of change. They can also make patterns with numbers, which helps them see order in counting.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Pattern Train Tickets for?
It is written for Reception, which is ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. It is designed to be shared with a grown-up, so younger or older children can join in too.
- What will children practise?
Children practise spotting the part of a pattern that repeats and continuing shape patterns. They also count to 3, name shapes and use a pencil to draw them carefully.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print as many copies as you need for your own family or class.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Screen free learning also gets children talking and drawing by hand.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add their own colour with pencils or crayons if they would like to.
- 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 page 2 offers help and stretch ideas.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Cover all but the first chunk with a card and say the shape names in time, like a train chugging. Build the pattern with real blocks first. Then move to the sheet.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.