Word Problems: Shapes & Patterns
Let's use what we know about shapes and patterns to solve fun story problems!
How to Solve Shape and Pattern Problems
Follow these steps:
- Listen to (or read) the story carefully
- Look at the picture
- Think about what shape or pattern you see
- Use what you learned to find the answer
Shape Story Problems
Problem 1: The Pizza Party
Mom ordered a pizza for dinner! The whole pizza is round. What shape is the pizza?
What shape is a whole pizza?
Problem 2: Building Blocks
Lily is building a tower with blocks. She picks up a block that has 4 equal sides and 4 corners. What shape is her block?
What shape is the block?
Problem 3: The Yield Sign
Dad is driving and stops at a sign. The sign has 3 sides and 3 corners. It says "YIELD." What shape is the sign?
What shape is the yield sign?
Problem 4: The Classroom Door
The classroom door has 4 sides. Two sides are longer than the other two. What shape is the door?
What shape is the door?
Problem 5: Counting Shapes
Look at these shapes! How many circles do you see?
How many circles?
Problem 6: Shape Sorting
Emma sorted her shapes. She found shapes with 4 corners. How many shapes with 4 corners are there?
How many shapes have 4 corners?
Now Let's Solve Pattern Problems!
Pattern Story Problems
Problem 7: The Bead Necklace
Grandma is making a necklace with beads. She uses a pattern: red, blue, red, blue. What color bead comes next?
What color comes next?
Problem 8: The Fruit Snack
Ben is eating fruit in a pattern: apple, banana, banana, apple, banana, banana. What fruit should Ben eat next?
What fruit comes next?
Problem 9: The Dance Moves
The class is doing a dance! The pattern is: clap, stomp, stomp, clap, stomp, stomp. What move comes next?
What comes next?
Problem 10: The Garden Fence
The garden fence has a pattern painted on it: star, heart, star, heart. A piece is missing! What shape should go in the blank?
What shape is missing?
Problem 11: Stacking Blocks
Sam is stacking colored blocks in a pattern. Look at his tower! What color block should go on top?
What color comes next?
Problem 12: The Cookie Tray
Mom arranged cookies on a tray in a pattern. Some are circles and some are stars. What shape cookie comes next?
What shape comes next?
Great Work!
You solved word problems by:
- Reading the story carefully
- Looking at the pictures
- Thinking about shapes and their features
- Finding patterns and predicting what comes next