Super Awesome Math

Patterns Worksheets

Number sequences & series · Grades 1–3

Number sequences with missing terms at three difficulty levels: constant steps (easy), multiplying or alternating steps (medium) and combined rules (hard). Children find the rule and fill in the blanks, which builds early algebraic thinking.

Skills: number patterns, skip counting, sequences, algebraic thinking. Format: printable, randomized on every load.

Settings
  • Level: easy, medium or hard

Example problems
  • 2, 4, 6, □, 10
  • 5, 10, 15, □, 25
  • 1, 2, 4, 8, □
  • 30, 27, 24, □, 18

How to use this worksheet
  1. Open https://superawesomemath.com/worksheets/patterns.
  2. Adjust the settings above; they are saved in your browser.
  3. Press Regenerate for a new random set, then Print.

Frequently asked questions
What do number patterns teach?
Finding the rule behind 2, 4, 6, □, 10 is early algebraic thinking: a child looks for a relationship rather than performing a given operation. It also reinforces skip counting, which supports the times tables.
What is the difference between the three levels?
Easy uses a constant step, such as adding 3 each time. Medium multiplies or alternates between two steps. Hard combines rules, so a child has to test a guess against several terms before trusting it.
My child is stuck on a sequence. What should I do?
Ask what changes from one number to the next and write the gaps underneath. Once the gaps are visible the rule usually becomes obvious, and the habit of writing them down transfers to harder sequences.

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