Creative Arts — Drawing & Decoration

Subtopic: Pattern Making (Age 6, Kenya)

A pattern is something that repeats. It can be colours, shapes or sounds. Patterns are everywhere — on zebras, on beaded necklaces and on our Kenyan flag!

Easy pattern types

  • Alternating: red, blue, red, blue...
  • Repeating group: circle, square, triangle, circle, square, triangle...
  • Border pattern: small shapes next to each other around a page.

See simple patterns

Patterns in Kenya — look and learn

- Zebras have striped patterns.
- Maasai beadwork uses bright repeating colours and shapes.
- The Kenyan flag has repeated colours in different places.

Fun activities (ask a grown-up to help)

  1. Pattern tracing: Draw shapes in this order: circle, square, circle, square. Can you continue?
  2. Make a bead bracelet: choose 3 colours. Put beads in the same order again and again.
  3. Leaf stamping: dip a leaf in paint and stamp in a line to make a repeating pattern.
  4. Clap-step game: Clap, clap, stomp. Repeat the same sounds as a pattern.

Try this page

Can you finish the pattern below? Draw the next shape in the empty circle.

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Materials

Paper, crayons, coloured beads, string, leaves, paint, a pencil and scissors (grown-up helps).

Safety note: Always ask a grown-up for help with scissors, glue or small beads.

Have fun making patterns! Try to make one using colours you see at home or outside.


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