What are Shape Patterns?
Shape patterns are particular sequences of shapes that are repeated in an orderly manner. The shapes used in the sequences are various 2D shapes, such as circles, rectangles, and squares or the images of other objects such as arrows, chocolates, spoons, stars and many other images.
Identifying Shape Patterns
Shape patterns are identified when the repetitive pattern among the shapes is understood. As a start, we can check for the number of times the shapes occur again and again, in a repetitive manner. As we identify the recurring shapes in the pattern, there is then a chance to identify the shape patterns.
Example of a Shape Pattern
The following example is suitable to represent a shape pattern:
From the image, we can see that the pattern consists of a rectangle and followed by two inverted pentagons. So, given this sequence, we can say that in the pattern after the 6th shape, the rectangle will be repeated followed by two inverted pentagons.
Solved Examples
Example 1:
In the following shape pattern, what would be the next two shapes to appear?
Answer:
The pattern starts with a circle, followed by a triangle, a pentagon and a star follow the pentagon. Now, we have to find the next two shapes after the star.
As the shapes are repeating in this pattern, the next two shapes after the star are the circle and the triangle.
Example 2:
Find the missing emoji from the following pattern.
Answer:
In the above pattern of emojis, we can notice a sequence of four types of emojis. There are four emojis that are being repeated in a particular sequence format. Now, we have to find the missing emoji from the pattern.
The winking face emoji, 
is missing from the pattern.
Example 3:
What shape will appear in the following pattern of shapes?
Answer:
In the above shape pattern, there are three shapes that are being repeated twice. The pattern begins with a large circle, a smaller circle and a triangle.
So, the next shape to appear after the triangle will be the large circle.
This is because the pattern consists of three different shapes that are being repeated twice and the large circle appears after the triangle the second time the whole pattern of six shapes repeats itself.
Shape patterns are highly essential for growing children and are an important aspect of mathematics as they help children in learning about making predictions, and observing relationships between various shapes and objects. Children can learn about different shapes and identify them from such patterns.
Shapes of any size and order can be used to create patterns. 2D shapes, complex 3D figures, real-life objects, emojis, and other shapes can be used.