New
New
Lesson 3 of 12
  • Year 8

Formalising a sequence

I can appreciate that a sequence is a succession of terms usually formed according to a rule.

Lesson 3 of 12
New
New
  • Year 8

Formalising a sequence

I can appreciate that a sequence is a succession of terms usually formed according to a rule.

These resources were made for remote use during the pandemic, not classroom teaching.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A pattern of objects can be made by following a rule.
  2. These rules can be described in words.
  3. The number of objects each time is the term.
  4. Missing terms in the sequence can be found using the rule.

Keywords

  • Term - Each value or pattern in a sequence is called a term.

Common misconception

Pupils can mix up describing how patterns grow or the relationships between objects in the pattern.

Pupils should verbalise their description, using the keyword 'term' , making it clear which way they are describing their pattern.


To help you plan your year 8 maths lesson on: Formalising a sequence, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Pupils could draw the patterns on square paper to predict how they might develop. This is a chance to explore the different structures of sequences.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Here are the first and second pattern in a pictorial sequence. Which is the third pattern if the sequence had a constant additive relationship?

An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz

Q2.
Which word best completes this description of a sequence: 'A sequence is a succession of diagrams, objects or __________, usually formed according to a rule.'

calculations
coordinates
integers
operations
Correct answer: values

Q3.
What would be the next value in this sequence if it has a constant additive rule? 18, 6, ...

Correct Answer: -6

Q4.
What would be the next value in this sequence if it has a constant multiplicative rule? 18, 6, ...

Correct Answer: 2

Q5.
Calculate the perimeter of this rectangle

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 14 mm, 14

Q6.
Calculate the perimeter of this L shape

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 16 cm, 16

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What do we call each value or pattern in a sequence?

a constant
an element
an expression
an object
Correct answer: a term

Q2.
Here is the beginning of a pictorial sequence with a constant additive rule. Which picture is term 5?

An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz

Q3.
Here is a sequence of connected 'N' shape patterns made out of dots. How many dots would there be in term 4 of this pattern?

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 28

Q4.
Here is a sequence of connected 'N' shape patterns made out of dots. Which of these could be a rule for the number of dots in each term?

An image in a quiz
The number of dots increase by 4 each time.
Correct answer: The number of dots increases by 6 each time.
There are 6 dots per N shape.
Correct answer: There are 6 dots per N shape add 4.
There are 10 dots per N shape.

Q5.
Here is a sequence of connected 'N' shape patterns made out of dots. How many dots would be needed for the 10th term?

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 64

Q6.
For this pictorial sequence, match up the rule with the element of the pattern it is describing.

An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:increase by 1 each time,vertical lines

vertical lines

Correct Answer:increase by 2 each time,height of the pattern in squares.

height of the pattern in squares.

Correct Answer:increase by 4 each time,diagonal lines

diagonal lines

Correct Answer:increase by 5 each time,total lines

total lines