Family Math Activity: Make Patterns by Weaving on Fences and Hampers

Transform everyday objects into fun, simple math activities. Create patterns by weaving using surfaces around your house.

Materials

Use a plastic hamper or basket with slots wide enough to insert fabric. You can use a hamper you already have at home or purchase one from a dollar store. Alternatively, you can use garden netting or a chain-link fence and create a pattern weaving project outside! You will also need streamers, paper, or fabric that can fit in, around and under the spaces of the hamper, netting or fence.

Exploring Patterns

First, let your child explore the weaving materials, colors and textures. Next, ask your child to try out making distinct patterns by laying out the materials in different combinations on a clean surface. Make a color pattern like red, yellow, red, yellow. Ask your child what comes next in the pattern. Next, try a pattern with materials like streamer, paper, paper, streamer, paper, paper.

Weaving

After exploring the materials, show your child how to weave by putting one piece of material through the hamper/fence and pulling it over and under through the gaps. Talk to your child as you weave, using the words "over" and "under" to show your weaving pattern. Now invite your child to try! What repeating patterns can your child make with the materials? What repeating patterns can your child make with weaving movements? Talk as you weave together about the choices and patterns you make and have fun!