Following and Creating Patterns Worksheet Pack for Year 3 Maths

Understanding number patterns is a key part of developing mathematical thinking in Year 3, especially as students begin working with algorithms, repeated steps and decision‑based rules. This following and creating patterns worksheet pack has been carefully designed to help students investigate numbers by following clear sets of instructions and creating their own rules to generate patterns.

This resource supports students as they work through sequences involving doubling, halving, addition, subtraction and multiplication, encouraging them to look beyond the answers and describe the patterns that emerge. By combining structured tasks with opportunities for reasoning, the worksheets help make abstract ideas concrete and approachable.

Teachers will appreciate that this following and creating patterns worksheet pack requires minimal prep while still offering depth. The activities promote problem‑solving, mathematical language development and algorithmic thinking — all within an engaging, student‑friendly format that fits easily into an existing maths program.

Creative Classroom Uses for Number Patterns Year 3

This resource is ideal for teaching number patterns in Year 3, but it also lends itself to a range of creative and flexible classroom applications. Try using the worksheets in less‑traditional ways to boost engagement and discussion:

• Algorithm detectives – Ask students to solve a completed pattern and work backwards to figure out the rule that was used.
• Human algorithms – Turn number rules into physical actions (step forward, clap, turn) before linking them back to the worksheet patterns.
• Error spotting – Provide a pattern with a deliberate mistake and challenge students to find and explain where the rule was broken.

These approaches help students see number patterns as dynamic and meaningful, rather than just a written exercise.

Download Number Pattern Worksheets Year 3

These number pattern worksheets are available in two flexible formats to suit your classroom needs. You can download the resource as a ready‑to‑print PDF for immediate use, as well as an editable Google Slides version for easy differentiation and digital activities.

Simply click the Download button to access the files. Please note that you will be prompted to make your own copy of the Google Slides before editing. This makes it simple to adjust instructions, change numbers, or adapt tasks for different learners.

This resource was created by Lisa Del Valle, a Teach Starter collaborator. 

Looking for More Year 3 Number Pattern Practice?

We’ve got you covered! Check out more of our Year 3 number pattern resources below.

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Play this number patterns board game which includes 36 question cards.

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Differentiated Number Pattern Worksheets for Year 3 and 4

Use this differentiated year 3 maths worksheet to allow students to practise completing number patterns and determining their rules.

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Number Patterns Task Cards – Addition and Subtraction

Practise identifying the rules of patterns, determining missing numbers and interpreting word problems with this set of 36 task cards.