We think of mathematics as having structure and that structure enables us to solve problems. Finding and understanding patterns gives us great power. Calculate the number of tiles you would need to build the 10th figure in the pattern.
Children find patterns from looking around and noticing says Grace Davila Coates Program Director of Family Math Lawrence Hall of Science University of California at Berkeley and co-author of Family Math for Young Children.
Identify patterns that your data seems to take on. Describe in words and pictures how you see the pattern growing. In Mathematics the patterns are related to any type of event or object. Extend these patterns visually.