Printable Number Patterns Worksheets

Printable number patterns worksheets for 2nd through 4th grade, with an answer key on every sheet. The sets below cover 4 different skills, so you can start where your child actually is. Available as ordering activities, sorting activities, missing numbers, and speed drills.

Targeted Practice by Skill

About Number Patterns

What this skill is

Number patterns involves identifying the arithmetic rule governing a sequence of numbers (+3, -5, x2) and filling in missing terms.

When children learn it

Number patterns are taught in 1st through 4th grade, aligned to 3.OA.D.9 and 4.OA.C.5.

Teaching Tips

  • Find the difference between two adjacent numbers to state the pattern rule.
  • Test the identified rule on every pair in the sequence.

Common Mistakes

  • Testing the rule on only the first two numbers without verifying across the entire sequence.
  • Confusing increasing (+ or x) rules with decreasing (- or /) rules.