Make Patterned Pancake Stacks
On Pancake Day, the Wombats get together with their friends to make a giant stack of pancakes. They use a growing pattern to add toppings. A growing pattern is when objects (like toppings!) increase in a predictable way. The Wombats' pattern is that each time they add a pancake to the stack, they increase the number of toppings by one. They add one squirt of syrup, two pats of butter, three banana slices, and four blueberries. In this activity you and your child will create your own pancake stack and add your own toppings using the Wombats' growing pattern.
Enjoy this treat with your child and learn about growing patterns as you make your pancake stacks. What toppings will you choose? Talk about the amount of each topping as you go and keep increasing the number of toppings by one.
Materials
Directions
Invite your child to make a growing pattern with pancakes and different toppings.
Use pancakes and toppings to make a growing pattern. First, place a pancake on a plate. Then, ask your child which topping they would like to choose first. For example, if they choose a raisin, top it with one raisin together. As you create your stack, say what you’re doing out loud together. “One raisin.”
Next place a pancake on top of the raisin. Then, ask your child which topping should come next. For example, if they select butter, add 2 pats of butter together. As you add to your stack, say what you’re doing out loud together to repeat the pattern. “One raisin. Two pats of butter.”
Place a third pancake on top. Ask your child which topping they would like to choose next. For example, if they choose jam, top the pancake with 3 spoonfuls of jam together. Continue saying the pattern out loud together. “One raisin. Two pats of butter. Three spoonfuls of jam.”
Place a fourth pancake on top. Ask your child to choose another topping. For example, if they choose syrup, place 4 squirts of syrup on top together. Again, together repeat the topping pattern out loud. “One raisin. Two scoops of butter. Three spoonfuls of jam. Four squirts of syrup.”
Place a fifth pancake on top. Ask your child what topping and how much of that topping you should add to continue the growing pattern. Then, ask your child to repeat the pattern back out loud.
Keep adding pancakes and toppings until you run out or until you are done. Then, grab forks and enjoy!
Explore Further
A growing pattern is a special kind of pattern when something increases in a predictable way. You can create examples of growing patterns with everyday items like blocks and beads or on paper by drawing pictures of objects!
Want more “Work It Out Wombats!” activities? Make a paper flower garden and print out a coloring sheet about patterns to continue the fun!
Author: 
- Activity Type
- Craft