AAB Pattern with Shapes

On this sheet the pattern goes first, first, second — an AAB pattern — using shapes like a circle, a square and a triangle. The child reads the three-part repeat, where the first picture comes twice, and fills the empty wagons to extend it. Continuing a pattern with a doubled opening element is foundational Kindergarten patterning, the skill of finding and following a rule, with nothing to count.

In an AAB pattern the opening picture leads twice before the second appears, so the child listens for a "two-then-one" beat and keeps it running. Learning to track a unit where the lead repeats stretches a young child's attention just past simple alternation, and a shapes version makes the doubled opening easy to follow down the wagons.

Children who can hear the AAB beat — the lead picture twice, then one — get quicker at front-loaded patterns, and cracking the front-loaded rhythm feels good and earns a careful ear its reward. When this feels easy, try the pattern in aab pattern with space, or aab pattern with things that fly. You can also browse every pattern worksheet or the whole kindergarten collection — each sheet prints cleanly or plays online for free, and once the doubled-lead beat is easy, a child is ready for ABB, where it is the second picture that doubles instead — the mirror image of this one.