Which patterns are there?

AB (apple, fish, apple, fish), ABB, ABC and a mixed set where every row has a different pattern, including AAB.

How do children fill in the boxes?

They draw the next pictures in the dotted boxes. For younger children, print a second copy, cut out pictures and glue them in.

Why practise patterns?

Spotting the part that repeats is the start of algebraic thinking, and it builds the habit of looking for structure, which helps with counting on, skip counting and times tables later.

Is there an answer key?

Yes, at the end of the PDF, with the missing pictures drawn in.

Pattern Worksheets: What Comes Next? AB, ABB and ABC Picture Patterns

From AB to ABC

Start with AB patterns, which most children in LKG can continue. ABB and ABC patterns have a longer repeating part, so children need to hold more in mind. The mixed set is a good check: every row asks them to find the rule again.

Make it physical

Before the sheet, build the same pattern with blocks, claps or children standing in a line. Then the drawing makes sense.

NCF and NCERT links

Age 3–4The NCF-FS (C-8.2) starts with AB patterns of leaves and flowers, sounds and movements.
LKGChildren continue patterns of three or four objects, including ABC patterns such as pen, book, pencil.
UKGChildren describe the rule of a pattern and make new ones, such as mandalas with twigs and flowers.

Patterns are all around Indian children: rangoli and kolam at the door, bangles on a wrist, borders on a sari. The NCF-FS suggests using such everyday patterns before pencil and paper, so build a pattern with flowers or bangles first.

NIPUN Bharat names patterns as part of foundational numeracy, moving from repeating shapes to number patterns, so the same skill leads later to skip counting and tables.

Summarised in our own words from the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage (NCERT, 2022) and the NIPUN Bharat guidelines (Ministry of Education, 2021).