Grade
5

What Comes Next? Prisms & Patterns

What do you notice? What do you wonder? What comes next?

First, a 2 by 2 by 2 prism with green cubes on the left half and blue cubes on the right. Next, a structure with a 3 by 2 by 2 yellow prism on the bottom and 2 by 2 by 1 orange prism on top. Then, a 6 by 2 by 2 prism with green and blue stripes. Next, a structure with a 5 by 2 by 2 yellow prism on the bottom and a 2 by 3 by 3 orange prism on top. Then, a 10 by 2 by 2 prism with green and blue stripes. Last, a structure with a 7 by 2 by 2 yellow prism on the bottom and a 5 by 2 by 2 orange prism on top.

Draw or use objects to show what the next three pictures look like. Describe how you know.

How does the total volume of the shapes change?

Challenge

Build or describe what the 10th structure would look like. What about the 20th?

Follow-up

Create your own pattern and share it with someone else. Ask them what comes next!

Printable Version

Google doc for printing and copying

Reference for Educators

Sample problems and solutions