Teacher guide · Think Lab · Easier · about 30 min

🚂 Pattern Train

Pupils practise problem solving through "Pattern Train": Finish the colour and shape patterns to fill the train.

Lesson guide

1. 1. Hook · 5 min

   Show the 🚂 mission title and read the opening: "🔴 🔵 🔴 🔵 🔴 … what comes next?". Take three quick guesses.

2. 2. Model · 5 min

   Think aloud through the first step together. Use Cog the Owl's line as your prompt: "Good thinking. Show me the why."

3. 3. Do · 10 min

   Pairs work through the 5 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"

4. 4. Discuss · 10 min

   Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.

5. 5. Reflect · 5 min

   Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used problem solving today.

Discussion questions

• What was the hardest choice in "Pattern Train", and why?
• 🔴 🔵 🔴 🔵 🔴 … what comes next — explain your reasoning to a partner.
• ⭐ ⭐ 🌙 ⭐ ⭐ 🌙 ⭐ … what comes next — explain your reasoning to a partner.
• 2, 4, 6, 8 … what comes next — explain your reasoning to a partner.
• Where could you use problem solving outside school this week?
• If you did this again, what would you change?

Adapting it

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.

Curriculum links

• National Curriculum: Maths: reasoning mathematically and problem solving
• National Curriculum: Computing: logical reasoning and algorithms
• PSHE: Living in the wider world: making decisions and evaluating choices