This is aligned with the following California State Standards:
Group together objects by attribute values such as shape or size (e.g., group together a square, a rectangle, and a rhombus, as they all have four sides). Contrast or distinguish objects based on attributes such as shape, size, texture, and numerical pattern. Order objects by following a specific rule (e.g., arrange three objects with different sizes from the smallest to largest).
Recognize patterns (or cycles) that exist in nature (e.g., seasons occur in a pattern, day and night occur in a pattern) or in everyday life (e.g., music, P.E., and art classes occur in a pattern in school).
Recognize a repeating pattern as a pattern that has a core unit repeated over and over (e.g., 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2...). Determine the core unit in a pattern that repeats over and over again. Recognize a growing pattern as a pattern that increases (e.g., 3, 6, 9, 12...) and a shrinking pattern as a pattern that decreases (e.g., 12, 10, 8...). Identify the pattern rule in growing and shrinking patterns by determining how each step in a pattern differs from the preceding step.
Communicate the next term in a repeating, growing, and shrinking pattern, consisting of numerals or letters, by recognizing the core unit or the pattern rule and applying it to the pattern (e.g., the pattern rule in the pattern 3, 6, 9, 12... is add 3, so the next term in the pattern is 12 + 3 equals 15).
Predict an element in a repeating, growing, and shrinking pattern by analyzing a given pattern, determining its core unit or the pattern rule, and applying it beyond just the next term (e.g., the pattern rule in the pattern 3, 6, 9, 12... is add 3, so the sixth term in the pattern equals 18).