The Language Needed to Explain Patterns
Task: Circle the language that your partner or you use to explain Pattern A.
Vocabulary and Expressions
Grammatical Features or
Discourse Features
Structures
to add something to + something
The figure has + ___ squares.
algebraic expression—
a mathematical phrase involving
variables, numbers and operations
ordinal numbers: first,
second, third, fourth
corresponding (adj.)—having a
similar position to something else
comparison—Figure 1 has 2
more squares than Figure 2.
larger than/smaller than
data (n.-pl.) —information, facts,
numbers
superlative—
largest/smallest
express (v.)— technical to change an
amount or quantity into a different
form, especially in mathematics
to express something as something
We can express a pattern as a rule.
adverbs—The squares are
arranged
vertically/horizontally.
figure (n.) —a design or pattern, a
pictorial representation
to figure out the value of something
• We can figure out the value of __.
to increase/decrease by a number
replace (v.)—to remove something
and put something in its place.
• We can replace the variable with a
number.
represent (v.) —to describe
something in a specific way; to stand
for something
square (n.) —a shape with four
straight equal sides with 90º angles
at the corners
table (n.) —a list of numbers, facts,
or information arranged in rows
across and down a page
variable (n.) —letter or symbol that
represents an unknown amount that
can change or vary
Write additional language here:
modal auxiliary—
would (used when talking
about a possible situation)—
How many squares would be
in a fourth figure?
questions—
• What comes next?
• How many squares does the
next figure have?
• What data is missing from
this table?
Prepositional phrases—
On top of
Compare/contrast — We
can compare the figures.
Table/graph —
We can make a table to
organize data.
Describe—e.g., data in a
table — In this table, each
number in the second
column is larger than the
corresponding number in
the first column by ___
square/s.
Translate — We can
translate words into an
algebraic expression.
Analyze — We can look for
a pattern in the
relationship between __
and __.
Task: What language would you use to explain Patterns B?
Vocabulary and Expressions
Grammatical Features or
Structures
Discourse Features
Task: What language would you use to explain Pattern C?
Vocabulary and Expressions
Grammatical Features or
Structures
Discourse Features