Sensing Patterns

In this Remarkable Idea, students will explore patterns using senses other than sight.

This activity addresses:

  • Patterning skills
  • Five senses
  • Critical thinking
  • Alternative methods of access

What you need:

  • TalkingBrix
  • Step-by-Step
  • Cards/pictures to identify each TalkingBrix (labeled AB pattern, ABB pattern, ABC pattern)
  • Cardstock
  • Glue
  • Sandpaper
  • Foam pool noodles
  • Utility knife
  • Various candies/food – (jellybeans, M&Ms, Reeses Pieces, Skittles, Fruit cut into small pieces, etc)
  • Small containers/paper cups
  • Acrylic Jars .20oz
  • Various extracts (vanilla, cinnamon, coconut, lemon, etc.)
  • Various herbs/spices
  • Cotton balls
  • Instruments
  • Animal sounds
  • Letter sounds
  • Something to tap a pattern with (pen, ruler, drum stick, etc.)

Preparation:

1. Create your TalkingBrix identification cards overlays using the AbleNet Symbol Overlay Maker app.

Touch/Feel
1. Cut a piece of cardstock in half so you have two pieces that are 8.5” x 5.5”.
2. Cut 3 small squares out of the sandpaper.
3. Glue sandpaper onto the cardstock, leave spaces for the other unit (sandpaper, blank space, sandpaper, blank space, etc.). A small line of glue can be placed and allowed to dry between each unit to denote each unit.
4. Create more cards using different textures (aluminum foil, felt, dried glue, different types of paper, etc.)
5. Label cards AB pattern, ABB pattern, ABC pattern
6. Cut the pool noodles in half lengthwise (you should have two semi-cylinders)

Taste
1. Cut up small pieces of fruit or other foods you wish to use.
2. Place into small cups/containers

Smell
1. Place a cotton ball into each jar and add a few drops of the extract of your choice. (Add more drops to increase the strength of each fragrance).
2. You may wish to mark the bottom of the jars for easy identification later.

Hearing
1. Record a pattern to the Step-by-Step using animal sounds, letter sounds, or a simple sound (example: the sound of a Morse code).

What to do:

Touch/Feel
1. Allow students to feel the pattern cards (you may wish to have them close their eyes!).
- Once the student has had a chance to feel their card, challenge them to identify the type of pattern: AB, ABB, or ABC.
- Students may use TalkingBrix to assist in identifying the pattern.
2. Place the semi-cylinder pool noodles on the floor in a pattern (Example: 1 by itself, 2 close together, 1 by itself, etc.)
- Students each take a turn rolling over the pool noodles.
- Once the student has had a chance to roll over the pattern, challenge them to identify the type of pattern: AB, ABB, or ABC.
- Students may use TalkingBrix to assist in identifying the pattern.

Taste
**ALWAYS BE AWARE OF ALLERGIES BEFORE ALLOWING STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ACTIVITY.
1. Organize the cups/containers of food/candy into a simple pattern. (Example: M & M, Reeses Piece, M & M, Reeses Piece.)
2. Have the student close their eyes then hand them the cups for their pattern one at a time.
3. They taste each cup until the pattern is finished.
4. Ask them to identify the type of pattern: AB, ABB, or ABC that you created with the food/candy. Students may use TalkingBrix to assist in identifying the pattern.

Smell
**ALWAYS BE AWARE OF ALLERGIES BEFORE ALLOWING STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ACTIVITY.
1. Ask the student to close their eyes (so they can’t see the pattern) and have them smell 4-6 (depending on the pattern) smelling jars. (Example: vanilla, peppermint, vanilla, peppermint.)
2. Ask them to identify the type of pattern: AB, ABB, or ABC that you created with smelling jars. Students may use TalkingBrix to assist in identifying the pattern.

Hearing
1. Have students activate the Step-by-Step and ask them to identify the pattern that they hear. Students may use TalkingBrix to assist in identifying the pattern.

Vocabulary:

AB pattern
ABB pattern
ABC pattern

Additional suggestions:

For the Hearing patterns section, if you choose particular sounds to use (animals, letter, etc.) you can ask them identify what they heard in addition to the pattern.

Also for the hearing patterns section this could be a nice intro to learning about Morse code and the complex patterns that make up this form of communication.

!