Grade 6 · Mathematics
Extending linear patterns in Grade 6
Your child identifies a constant change, states a pattern rule, and uses it to predict later terms.
Where this sits in the year
One skill in the Grade 6 constellation
A practical map of the math skills learners build through Grade 6. Exact timing varies by curriculum.
How it's taught now
Growing pictures, tables, graphs, and equations show the same relationship in complementary ways.
Three mistakes to watch for
Describing only what comes next instead of a general rule.
Counting the first term as the amount added each time.
Extending a table without checking the constant change.
A worked example
A pattern follows 3n + 2. Find term 6.
Substitute 6 for n: 3 × 6 + 2.
Answer: 20
Try this together
A tile design has 5 tiles in figure 1 and grows by 3 each time. How many will figure 4 have?
Give them a moment to talk it through. The explanation matters more than a quick answer.