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Math Is Fun!
Pattern Bugs
Patterns galore! In this book for young children, the concept of patterns is delightfully introduced with both graphics and text. The text indicates the pattern to be discovered through repeated words, and the illustrations reinforce the pattern with many different cues such as the other objects in the scene and the borders around the first piece of art in each pattern. An additional learning readiness skill -- prediction -- is also effectively used in this book.
40 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2001
4 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Trudy Harris
62 books28 followersTrudy Harris, RN, is the New York Times bestselling author of Glimpses of Heaven and More Glimpses of Heaven, a former hospice nurse, and former president of the Hospice Foundation for Caring. Since retirement, Harris remains active in connecting the need
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 19, 2020
This book has children explore rhyming patterns centered around insects, leading them to guess what the word will be on the following page. (For example, “Flutter-float / Flutter-float / A graceful golden butterfly / Flutters in the summer sky. / Flutter-float / flutter-float / flutter __________.”) The insects make animated facial expressions, and the illustrations also reinforce patterns, as each page has a border with a different pattern.
Connections to "big ideas" in math:
-Patterns are sequences governed by a rule.
-Identifying the rules of a pattern brings predictability and allows us to make generalizations.
-Patterns can be formed by words, shapes, colors, and more--the same pattern structure can be found in different forms.
Ideas for teaching:
-How did you know what word came next?
-If reading in a small group or one-on-one, I would ask them to look at the pattern border on each page and draw how they would extend the pattern/keep the pattern going.
-For extending activities or if using in a developing (and not introductory) lesson, I would talk about pattern structures and map out the pattern structures we see in the book’s illustrations and in the words. Then I would have children come up with their own patterns using words, blocks, drawings, or other materials in the classroom.
Considerations for use with dual-language learners (DLLs) or students with special needs: Children who are DLLs will be able to follow along, especially as some of the repeating words are onomatopoetic. Recognizing the repetition of patterns will require more phonemic awareness than reading comprehension, and the illustrations on the page will help them connect the words/labels in English to the object. For special education, the exciting thing about this book is that it comes with built-in differentiation in that it shows students how patterns can be expressed using multiple forms/modes. I would give special education students choices in expressing patterns (e.g. through sound, drawing, manipulatives, etc.).
Connections to "big ideas" in math:
-Patterns are sequences governed by a rule.
-Identifying the rules of a pattern brings predictability and allows us to make generalizations.
-Patterns can be formed by words, shapes, colors, and more--the same pattern structure can be found in different forms.
Ideas for teaching:
-How did you know what word came next?
-If reading in a small group or one-on-one, I would ask them to look at the pattern border on each page and draw how they would extend the pattern/keep the pattern going.
-For extending activities or if using in a developing (and not introductory) lesson, I would talk about pattern structures and map out the pattern structures we see in the book’s illustrations and in the words. Then I would have children come up with their own patterns using words, blocks, drawings, or other materials in the classroom.
Considerations for use with dual-language learners (DLLs) or students with special needs: Children who are DLLs will be able to follow along, especially as some of the repeating words are onomatopoetic. Recognizing the repetition of patterns will require more phonemic awareness than reading comprehension, and the illustrations on the page will help them connect the words/labels in English to the object. For special education, the exciting thing about this book is that it comes with built-in differentiation in that it shows students how patterns can be expressed using multiple forms/modes. I would give special education students choices in expressing patterns (e.g. through sound, drawing, manipulatives, etc.).
June 21, 2019
This awesome book about patterns features a different type of bug on each set of pages. While the style of art wasn't my cup of tea at first, once I looked closer, I absolutely loved the myriad ways the illustrator, Anne Canevari Green, included the patterns, from the page borders to the size/shape/colors of the markings on the bugs, to the lines radiating out from the center of a flower, to the length/shape/color of leaves, and so very many more! The book is fun to read out loud, but the true joy and value in it is in snuggling with a preschooler and seeing who can spot all the patterns on a page. GREAT for early literacy--patterns, rhymes, and good times.
September 25, 2019
Trudy takes an interesting route that is very exciting and funny to understand the concept of pattern by using little insects. The artwork in this picture book pops out at you and makes you want to read more. A way that you can use this book in a class is when teaching art and asking them to create a pattern of colors for a project. If they had read this book they would understand the idea of patterns.
January 3, 2022
This is by the same folks as Pattern Fish, and all that has really changed is the context. The types of patterns are basically the same, as are the structure and the rhythm of the text. Again, it has something of a story, but it's very light.
January 25, 2018
Simple and pleasing to read aloud, with bright pictures, but full of verbal and visual patterns--AB, ABC, AAB, ABB... Patterns are expressed with words, movement, size, position and cover.
A really lovely maths concept book for little kids.
A really lovely maths concept book for little kids.
July 29, 2021
So many patterns to find and explore throughout this book. Great, subtle introduction to patterning.
September 21, 2022
This book is a great way to teach kiddos about patterns.
February 21, 2022
Like the way you can hunt for all the different ways the pattern appears on each page.
It's in the words (sounds from the bugs), in the page border, but also in other places on the page.
There's not a lot of story -- the bugs are out making noise and then someone turns on the light.
Good for a read aloud with littles because they can predict the next word.
After a read aloud, I'd project one page (probably via document cam) and have people find all the instances of the pattern on that page.
See Pattern Fish for the same thing with a different story.
It's in the words (sounds from the bugs), in the page border, but also in other places on the page.
There's not a lot of story -- the bugs are out making noise and then someone turns on the light.
Good for a read aloud with littles because they can predict the next word.
After a read aloud, I'd project one page (probably via document cam) and have people find all the instances of the pattern on that page.
See Pattern Fish for the same thing with a different story.
Read
April 19, 2012This book is a wonderful tool to use when teaching students about patterns. It shows different patterns and pattern sequences on the bugs. The best part is that it also repeats a patter in the words as well. This book would be wonderful for the younger grade students because they can visually and auditory detect the pattern.
Science Fiction:
When talking about different species or different classification of bugs you could use this book as a guide. This would be another great activity that is best for math but science can easily be integrated. As a class, you could classify the bugs by characteristics, types of bugs or habitats all while discussing the math concept of patterns. This book would be wonderful for k-2 grades.
Science Fiction:
When talking about different species or different classification of bugs you could use this book as a guide. This would be another great activity that is best for math but science can easily be integrated. As a class, you could classify the bugs by characteristics, types of bugs or habitats all while discussing the math concept of patterns. This book would be wonderful for k-2 grades.
February 6, 2012
Patterns galore in this book for young children, the concept of patterns is delightfully introduced with both graphics and text. The text indicates the pattern to be discovered through repeated words, and the illustrations reinforce the pattern with many different cues such as the other objects in the scene and the borders around the first piece of art in each pattern. An additional learning readiness skill -- prediction -- is also effectively used in this book
January 29, 2020
Countdown to Kindergarten: Patterns
Simple book about patterns. I found the explanations about how patterns work at the back of the book very helpful in teaching the concept.
2020 NC Digital Kids.
Simple book about patterns. I found the explanations about how patterns work at the back of the book very helpful in teaching the concept.
2020 NC Digital Kids.
September 10, 2009
Good book to use for teaching patterns. This can be included in a poetry unit!
April 3, 2011
Cute book, nice way to introduce patterns.
February 11, 2012
A nice concept book. It looks like a ready made preschool lesson. Very easy to picture accompanying discussion and activites.
April 15, 2012
This book is great for patterns such as AB. It also incorporates bugs! Prediction is also present.
Read
June 26, 2013good
September 17, 2013
Each page contains a refrain or pattern that the audience can complete
December 30, 2015
Awesome for patterns! Love this book!
Read
April 3, 2018In this short book I noticed many ways of how children would see and interpret different things whether it is human or not. In the terms of the book, they would be interpreting the different sounds and motions of certain bugs. The book is very colorful as the pages are full of different colors. The bugs in the book portray different sounds and noises they make as they walk. The main idea of this book is to give children an understanding of how we imagine bugs talk and make sound as they move. This book could be used in a classroom for colors, shapes, and learning about bugs.
January 4, 2019
Very neat to teach patterns because it is in the illustrations and text.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews