Patterns: What Comes Next? Worksheet for Kindergarten - 2nd Grade ... - Free Printable

Let's solve the pattern recognition task step by step.

We are given a series of shapes in rows, and we need to determine the next shape in each sequence based on the pattern.

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Row 1:

Shapes:
🟩 □, 🟩 □, 🟨 ○, 🟩 □

- The colors alternate between green (🟩) and yellow (🟨)?
Wait — actually, looking closely:
- First: Green square
- Second: Green square
- Third: Yellow circle
- Fourth: Green square

Wait — let’s check the actual image description again.

Actually, from your description:

> Row 1: Square, Square, Circle, Square

All shapes are outlined in green, so color is consistent. So ignore color — focus on shape.

So the sequence is:
1. Square
2. Square
3. Circle
4. Square

Now look at the pattern:
S, S, C, S → ?

This seems like it might be repeating every 3? But not quite.

Wait — maybe group it differently?

Alternatively, think about alternating patterns.

But here’s a better idea: perhaps the pattern is based on repetition and alternation.

Let’s re-express:

Row 1: □, □, ○, □

What comes next?

If we look at positions:
- Position 1: □
- Position 2: □
- Position 3: ○
- Position 4: □

Hmm. Maybe it's a cycle of two squares, then a circle, then repeat?

So:
- □, □, ○, □ → next should be □?

But that would make it: □, □, ○, □, □ → then ○ again?

But after two squares, circle appears, then square again.

Wait — but the third one is a circle, fourth is square — so maybe the pattern is square, square, circle, and then repeats?

Then:
- 1: □
- 2: □
- 3: ○
- 4: □ ← this breaks the pattern

Wait — if the pattern is □, □, ○, then next should be □, □, ○, □, □, ○...

But here it's:
1. □
2. □
3. ○
4. □

So position 4 is □ — which could be the start of a new cycle?

So maybe the pattern is □, □, ○, and then it restarts?

But then the 4th shape should be □, which matches.

So sequence:
□, □, ○, □, □, ○, ...

So the 5th should be □, and 6th ○?

But we only have four shapes shown. We are to draw the next shape.

So the sequence is:
1. □
2. □
3. ○
4. □

If we assume the pattern is two squares, then a circle, and then back to square?

But that would be: □, □, ○, □, □, ○...

So after □, □, ○, □ → next is □?

But that would make the 5th shape □.

But wait — why is the 4th shape □?

Maybe the pattern is square, square, circle, square — then what?

Perhaps it's not a simple repetition.

Alternative idea: maybe it's alternating square and circle, but with two squares in a row?

Wait — let’s look at all rows together.

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Row 2:

Red outline:
○, □, ○, □, ○

So: Circle, Square, Circle, Square, Circle

This is clearly an alternating pattern: ○, □, ○, □, ○

So next should be Square (□)

Because it alternates: Circle → Square → Circle → Square → Circle → Square

✔ So Row 2: Next shape = Square

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Row 3:

Blue outline:
□, ○, ○, □, ○

So: Square, Circle, Circle, Square, Circle

Pattern:
1. □
2. ○
3. ○
4. □
5. ○

Hmm.

Look at positions:
- 1: □
- 2: ○
- 3: ○
- 4: □
- 5: ○

Is there a pattern?

Group: □, ○, ○ → then □, ○

Wait — maybe it's square, circle, circle, then repeat?

But after that, it goes □, ○ — so not matching.

Or perhaps:
□, ○, ○, □, ○ → next?

Notice:
- Positions 1 and 4: both □
- Positions 2,3,5: ○

So maybe it's: □, ○, ○, □, ○, ○, □, ...

So the pattern is: □, ○, ○, repeated?

But then:
1. □
2. ○
3. ○
4. □ ← yes
5. ○ ← yes
6. ○ ← expected
7. □ ← etc.

So the 6th should be ○

But we’re asked for the next shape after the 5th.

So after ○, ○, □, ○ → next is ○?

But wait: 1:□, 2:○, 3:○, 4:□, 5:○ → so far: □, ○, ○, □, ○

If the pattern is □, ○, ○, then it should repeat: □, ○, ○, □, ○, ○, ...

So the 6th should be ○

But we have 5 shapes already. So the next (6th) is ○

But wait — does it fit?

After □, ○, ○, then □, ○ — so the second □ is followed by ○, but not ○,○?

So maybe not.

Alternative: Could it be square, circle, circle, square, circle, circle?

Then the pattern is: □, ○, ○, □, ○, ○ → so 6th is ○

Yes — so if it’s a repeating block of □, ○, ○, then:

- 1: □
- 2: ○
- 3: ○
- 4: □
- 5: ○
- 6: ○

So yes — the next shape is Circle

But wait — is there a reason for the second □ to appear?

Maybe the pattern is square, circle, circle, then repeat.

But then after □, ○, ○, the next should be □ again — but here the 4th is □, 5th is ○ — so maybe it's just repeating every 3?

But 4th is □ — which is same as 1st — so maybe it's periodic with period 3?

But 1:□, 2:○, 3:○
4:□, 5:○ → so 6 should be ○

So yes — the pattern is: □, ○, ○, □, ○, ○, ...

So next shape is Circle

✔ Row 3: Next shape = Circle

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Row 4:

Orange outline:
○, □, ○, □, ○

So: Circle, Square, Circle, Square, Circle

Same as Row 2!

So: ○, □, ○, □, ○ → next should be Square

Because it alternates: Circle → Square → Circle → Square → Circle → Square

✔ Row 4: Next shape = Square

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Row 5:

Purple outline:
□, □, □, ○, □

So: Square, Square, Square, Circle, Square

Now look:
1. □
2. □
3. □
4. ○
5. □

So three squares, then circle, then square.

Possible pattern?

Maybe: three squares, then circle, then repeat?

But after circle comes square — so not yet.

Or maybe: square, square, square, circle, square — then what?

Could it be: square, square, square, circle, and then repeat?

But then after circle, it should go back to square — but that’s already happening.

So:
- 1: □
- 2: □
- 3: □
- 4: ○
- 5: □

Now — if the pattern is: □, □, □, ○, □, □, □, ○, ...

Then next (6th) should be □

But that doesn’t make sense — because after circle, it goes to square, then what?

Wait — perhaps the pattern is: three squares, then circle, and then repeat?

But then after circle, it should go to square again — but we already have that.

So maybe the full cycle is: □, □, □, ○

Then next should be □, □, □, ○, □, □, □, ○,...

But we have: □, □, □, ○, □ — so fifth is □

So sixth should be □

Seventh: □

Eighth: ○

So the pattern is: three squares, then circle, and then back to square?

But that means the circle is followed by square — which is fine.

But the cycle is: □, □, □, ○ → then repeats?

But after ○, it goes to □ — so yes, the cycle is □, □, □, ○, and then starts over.

So:
- 1: □
- 2: □
- 3: □
- 4: ○
- 5: □ ← start of new cycle
- 6: □
- 7: □
- 8: ○

So the next shape (after 5th) is Square

✔ Row 5: Next shape = Square

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Now go back to Row 1:

Row 1: □, □, ○, □

So: Square, Square, Circle, Square

Now — what comes next?

We need to find the pattern.

Possibility 1: Alternating with two squares?

But only two squares at the beginning.

Another idea: maybe it's square, square, circle, then square, then what?

Wait — compare to Row 5: □, □, □, ○, □ — so similar.

But here: □, □, ○, □

So:
1. □
2. □
3. ○
4. □

Could it be: square, square, circle, then square, then circle?

But that would be: □, □, ○, □, ○

Or maybe: square, square, circle, then repeat?

But then after ○, it should go to □ — but we have □ already.

Wait — if the pattern is: □, □, ○, □, □, ○,...

Then:
- 1: □
- 2: □
- 3: ○
- 4: □
- 5: □
- 6: ○

So the next shape after 4th (which is □) is □

So Square

But is that supported?

Let’s see: maybe it's two squares, then circle, and then repeat?

So: □, □, ○, □, □, ○,...

So after □, □, ○, the next is □, then □, then ○

But in our case, after □, □, ○, we have □ — so it fits: □, □, ○, □ — so now the next should be □ (to complete the pair), then ○

So yes — the pattern is two squares, then circle, repeating.

So:
- 1: □
- 2: □
- 3: ○
- 4: □
- 5: □
- 6: ○

So the next shape after the 4th is Square

✔ Row 1: Next shape = Square

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Summary:

Let’s list all:

#### Row 1: □, □, ○, □ → next: □ (Square)
→ Pattern: Two squares, then circle, repeat.

#### Row 2: ○, □, ○, □, ○ → next: □ (Square)
→ Alternating: Circle, Square, Circle, Square, ... → next is Square

#### Row 3: □, ○, ○, □, ○ → next: ○ (Circle)
→ Pattern: □, ○, ○, repeat?
But 1:□, 2:○, 3:○, 4:□, 5:○ → so 6:○ → yes
So pattern: □, ○, ○, □, ○, ○, ... → so next is ○

Wait — but is it really repeating every 3?
Positions:
- 1: □
- 2: ○
- 3: ○
- 4: □ ← same as 1
- 5: ○ ← same as 2
- 6: ○ ← same as 3

So yes — it's a repeating pattern of □, ○, ○

So next is ○

✔

#### Row 4: ○, □, ○, □, ○ → next: □ (Square)
→ Alternating: ○, □, ○, □, ○ → next is □

✔

#### Row 5: □, □, □, ○, □ → next: □ (Square)
→ Pattern: Three squares, then circle, then repeat?
But after circle, it goes to square — so the cycle is: □, □, □, ○, then repeat?

But then after ○, it should go to □ — which it does.

So:
- 1: □
- 2: □
- 3: □
- 4: ○
- 5: □
- 6: □
- 7: □
- 8: ○

So yes — the pattern is three squares, then circle, and then back to square.

So after □ (5th), next is □

✔

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Final Answers:

| Row | Sequence | Next Shape |
|-----|----------------------------------|------------|
| 1 | □, □, ○, □ | □ |
| 2 | ○, □, ○, □, ○ | □ |
| 3 | □, ○, ○, □, ○ | ○ |
| 4 | ○, □, ○, □, ○ | □ |
| 5 | □, □, □, ○, □ | □ |

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✔ Solution:

Draw the following shapes in order:

1. Square
2. Square
3. Circle
4. Square
5. Square

You can now draw these shapes in the blank spaces provided on the worksheet.