Children complete ocean-themed patterns by cutting and pasting the correct icons.

To solve this pattern worksheet, we need to look at each row of pictures and figure out which picture is missing. Then, we match that missing picture to the options in the box at the bottom.

Row 1:
The pattern is: Shell, Flower, Shell, [Missing], Shell, Flower.
This looks like an A-B-A-B pattern repeating.
- Shell (A)
- Flower (B)
- Shell (A)
- Flower (B) should be next.
- Shell (A)
- Flower (B)
So, the missing piece is the Flower.

Row 2:
The pattern is: Fish, Crab, Crab, Fish, [Missing], Crab.
Let's look closely. It seems to be a group of three repeating? Or maybe pairs?
Let's try grouping: (Fish, Crab, Crab), (Fish, ...).
If the pattern is Fish, Crab, Crab repeating:
1. Fish
2. Crab
3. Crab
4. Fish
5. Crab should be next.
6. Crab should be after that.
The last item shown is a Crab. So the sequence is Fish, Crab, Crab, Fish, Crab, Crab.
So, the missing piece is a Crab.

Row 3:
The pattern is: Starfish, Starfish, Clam, Starfish, Starfish, [Missing].
This looks like an A-A-B pattern.
- Starfish (A)
- Starfish (A)
- Clam (B)
- Starfish (A)
- Starfish (A)
- Clam (B) should be next.
So, the missing piece is a Clam.

Row 4:
The pattern is: Seahorse, Lobster, Seahorse, Lobster, [Missing], Lobster.
This is a simple A-B-A-B pattern.
- Seahorse (A)
- Lobster (B)
- Seahorse (A)
- Lobster (B)
- Seahorse (A) should be next.
- Lobster (B)
So, the missing piece is a Seahorse.

Row 5:
The pattern is: Smiley Face, Octopus, Smiley Face, Smiley Face, Octopus, [Missing].
Wait, let's look closer.
1. Smiley Face
2. Octopus
3. Smiley Face
4. Smiley Face
5. Octopus
6. [Missing]

Let's re-examine Row 5.
It goes: Smiley, Octopus, Smiley, Smiley, Octopus...
Is it Smiley, Octopus, Smiley repeating?
1. Smiley
2. Octopus
3. Smiley
4. Smiley -- This breaks the simple A-B-A pattern if it's just repeating triplets.
Let's look at it as pairs or groups.
Maybe it's: Smiley, Octopus, Smiley | Smiley, Octopus, Smiley?
Let's check the items again.
Item 1: Smiley Face with bow.
Item 2: Octopus.
Item 3: Smiley Face with bow.
Item 4: Smiley Face with bow.
Item 5: Octopus.
Item 6: [Box]

If the pattern is "Smiley, Octopus, Smiley" repeating:
Group 1: Smiley, Octopus, Smiley.
Group 2: Smiley, Octopus, Smiley.
This fits perfectly. The 4th item starts the second group.
So, the missing piece is a Smiley Face.

Summary of Missing Pieces from Top to Bottom:
1. Flower
2. Crab
3. Clam
4. Seahorse
5. Smiley Face

Now let's find these in the cut-out strip at the bottom.
- The Flower is the 5th item in the strip.
- The Crab is NOT in the strip? Wait, let me look at the strip again.
Strip items from left to right:
1. Smiley Face
2. Seahorse
3. Starfish
4. Lobster? No, that's a crab-like creature but different from the one in Row 2? Let's compare Row 2 Crab and Strip Item 4.
- Row 2 has a crab with round eyes on stalks.
- Strip Item 4 is a lobster/crab with big claws. Let's look at Row 4. Row 4 has a "Lobster" with big claws.
- Let's re-evaluate Row 2. The animal is a Crab. Is there a Crab in the strip?
- Let's look at Strip Item 4 again. It looks like a Lobster.
- Let's look at Strip Item 6. It's a Clam.

Let's re-read the strip carefully.
1. Smiley Face
2. Seahorse
3. Starfish
4. Lobster (Big claws)
5. Flower
6. Clam

Wait, I need a Crab for Row 2. There is no standard Crab in the strip. Let me re-examine Row 2's pattern.
Row 2: Fish, Crab, Crab, Fish, [Box], Crab.
Maybe the pattern isn't what I thought.
Could it be symmetric? Fish, Crab, Crab, Fish... then Crab, Fish? No.

Let's look at the animals in Row 4 again.
Row 4: Seahorse, Lobster, Seahorse, Lobster, [Box], Lobster.
Missing: Seahorse.
Strip has a Seahorse (Item 2). That works.

Let's look at Row 2 again.
Fish, Crab, Crab, Fish, [Box], Crab.
If the pattern is A-B-B-A-B-B...
1. Fish (A)
2. Crab (B)
3. Crab (B)
4. Fish (A)
5. Crab (B)
6. Crab (B)
So yes, it needs a Crab.

Is it possible that Strip Item 4 is actually the Crab needed for Row 2?
Let's compare the drawing in Row 2 and Row 4.
- Row 2 Animal: Round body, two legs on side, two claws up, eyes on stalks.
- Row 4 Animal: Long body, two big pinchers, antennae. This is definitely a Lobster.
- Strip Item 4: Long body, two big pinchers, antennae. This is a Lobster.

So where is the Crab for Row 2?
Let me look at the strip again very carefully.
Maybe I missed an item?
Strip: [Smiley] [Seahorse] [Starfish] [Lobster] [Flower] [Clam]

There are 5 rows and 6 cutouts. One cutout will be left over? Or maybe one row uses a cutout that looks similar?

Let's re-evaluate Row 2.
Fish, Crab, Crab, Fish, [ ], Crab.
Is it possible the pattern is Fish, Crab, Fish, Crab...?
1. Fish
2. Crab
3. Crab -- This doesn't fit A-B-A-B.

What if the pattern is related to the number of legs? No, that's too complex.

Let's look at the cutouts again.
1. Smiley Face -> Matches Row 5 end.
2. Seahorse -> Matches Row 4 middle.
3. Starfish -> Matches Row 3? No, Row 3 needs a Clam.
4. Lobster -> Does any row need a Lobster?
Row 4 is Seahorse/Lobster. We identified the missing piece as Seahorse.
Row 2 is Fish/Crab. We identified the missing piece as Crab.

Is it possible that Row 2's "Crab" is actually represented by the Lobster cutout? They are both crustaceans. In lower-grade worksheets, sometimes distinctions are loose, OR I am misidentifying the animal in Row 2.
Let's look at Row 2, item 2. It has a wide shell. It's a Crab.
Let's look at Strip Item 4. It has a long tail and big claws. It's a Lobster.

Let's look at Row 4 again.
Seahorse, Lobster, Seahorse, Lobster, [ ], Lobster.
Missing is Seahorse. Strip Item 2 is Seahorse. Correct.

Let's look at Row 3 again.
Starfish, Starfish, Clam, Starfish, Starfish, [ ].
Missing is Clam. Strip Item 6 is Clam. Correct.

Let's look at Row 1 again.
Shell, Flower, Shell, [ ], Shell, Flower.
Missing is Flower. Strip Item 5 is Flower. Correct.

Let's look at Row 5 again.
Smiley, Octopus, Smiley, Smiley, Octopus, [ ].
Pattern: Smiley, Octopus, Smiley | Smiley, Octopus, Smiley.
Missing is Smiley. Strip Item 1 is Smiley. Correct.

So we have used:
- Smiley (Strip 1) for Row 5.
- Seahorse (Strip 2) for Row 4.
- Clam (Strip 6) for Row 3.
- Flower (Strip 5) for Row 1.

Remaining strips:
- Starfish (Strip 3)
- Lobster (Strip 4)

Remaining Row:
- Row 2: Fish, Crab, Crab, Fish, [ ], Crab.
Needs a Crab.

There is no Crab in the remaining strips. There is a Lobster and a Starfish.
Did I make a mistake in Row 2's pattern?
Fish, Crab, Crab, Fish...
Could the pattern be: Fish, Crab, Crab, Fish, Fish, Crab?
If it's a palindrome? Fish, Crab, Crab, Fish. Then it restarts?
If it restarts: Fish, Crab...
Then the 5th item is Fish?
Let's check if there is a Fish in the strip. No.

Let's look at the animals in Row 2 again.
Maybe the third item isn't a Crab?
Item 1: Fish facing left.
Item 2: Crab.
Item 3: Crab.
Item 4: Fish facing left.
Item 5: [Box]
Item 6: Crab.

If the pattern is A-B-B-A-B-B...
Then Item 5 is B (Crab).

Is it possible that Strip Item 4 (Lobster) is intended to be the "Crab"?
Visually, they are different. But logically, it's the only crustacean left.
OR, did I mess up Row 4?
Row 4: Seahorse, Lobster, Seahorse, Lobster, [ ], Lobster.
If the pattern was A-B-A-B-B-A? No.
A-B-A-B-A-B.
1. Seahorse
2. Lobster
3. Seahorse
4. Lobster
5. Seahorse
6. Lobster
This requires a Seahorse. We have a Seahorse cutout.

So Row 4 definitely takes the Seahorse.

This leaves Row 2 needing a Crab, and the only remaining cutouts are Starfish and Lobster.
A Starfish does not fit in a Fish/Crab pattern.
A Lobster is at least a sea creature with claws, like a Crab.

Let's reconsider the pattern in Row 2.
Fish, Crab, Crab, Fish, [ ], Crab.
What if the pattern is based on position?
1. Fish
2. Crab
3. Crab
4. Fish
5. ?
6. Crab

If we assume the pattern repeats every 3 items: (Fish, Crab, Crab).
Items 1-3: Fish, Crab, Crab.
Items 4-6: Fish, Crab, Crab.
This fits perfectly. The missing item is a Crab.

Since there is no Crab cutout, but there is a Lobster cutout, and Lobsters and Crabs are often confused or grouped together in simple clip art sets, it is highly likely that the Lobster cutout is the intended answer for the Crab spot, OR the artist drew a Lobster in the strip but meant it to be the Crab from the row.

However, let's look closer at Strip Item 4. It is distinctly a Lobster.
Let's look closer at Row 2 Item 2. It is distinctly a Crab.

Is there any other interpretation?
What if Row 4's missing item is NOT Seahorse?
Seahorse, Lobster, Seahorse, Lobster, [ ], Lobster.
If the pattern is A-B-B-A-B-B?
1. Seahorse
2. Lobster
3. Seahorse -- wait, item 3 is Seahorse. So it's not A-B-B.
It is A-B-A-B-A-B.

Okay, let's look at the cutouts one more time.
1. Smiley
2. Seahorse
3. Starfish
4. Lobster
5. Flower
6. Clam

Rows:
1. Needs Flower. (Cutout 5)
3. Needs Clam. (Cutout 6)
4. Needs Seahorse. (Cutout 2)
5. Needs Smiley. (Cutout 1)

This leaves Cutout 3 (Starfish) and Cutout 4 (Lobster) for Row 2.
Row 2 needs a Crab.
Between a Starfish and a Lobster, which is "more" like a Crab? A Lobster.
Also, looking at the visual style, the Lobster cutout has big claws. The Crab in Row 2 has small claws.

Wait! Look at Row 2 again.
Fish, Crab, Crab, Fish, [ ], Crab.
Look at Row 4 again.
Seahorse, Lobster, Seahorse, Lobster, [ ], Lobster.

Is it possible I swapped them?
If Row 2 needed a Lobster... no, it has Crabs.
If Row 4 needed a Starfish... no.

Let's look at the Starfish cutout. Where could it go?
Row 3: Starfish, Starfish, Clam, Starfish, Starfish, [ ].
We said it needs a Clam.
If it needed a Starfish, the pattern would be Starfish, Starfish, Clam, Starfish, Starfish, Starfish? That doesn't make a nice pattern.
A-A-B, A-A-B makes the most sense. So Row 3 needs Clam.

So the Starfish cutout is the extra one?
The instructions say "Cut and paste to complete the patterns." Usually, there is exactly one cutout per box. There are 5 boxes and 6 cutouts. This implies one cutout is a distractor/extra.

Therefore, the Starfish is likely the extra piece.
And the Lobster is the intended piece for Row 2, despite being a different species than the Crab in the row. This is a common inconsistency in educational materials where "crustacean with claws" is treated as the matching category, or it's simply a clip-art error where they used a lobster icon for a crab slot. Given the choices, Lobster is the only logical fit for the "Crab" slot because a Starfish fits nowhere else.

Final Check:
Row 1: Flower (Matches Cutout 5)
Row 2: Lobster (Used as Crab substitute, Matches Cutout 4)
Row 3: Clam (Matches Cutout 6)
Row 4: Seahorse (Matches Cutout 2)
Row 5: Smiley Face (Matches Cutout 1)

Leftover: Starfish (Cutout 3).

So the answers to fill in the boxes from top to bottom are:
1. Flower
2. Lobster (representing the Crab pattern)
3. Clam
4. Seahorse
5. Smiley Face

Final Answer:
The missing items for each row, from top to bottom, are:
1. Flower
2. Lobster (Note: The pattern shows crabs, but the corresponding cutout is a lobster; it is the best fit among the remaining options).
3. Clam
4. Seahorse
5. Smiley Face

(The Starfish cutout is not used).