Pupils should be asked to look for a pattern in the environment and to describe the elements of the chosen pattern.

In this problem can they see any pattern? Can they create as pattern of numbers in the hexagons? What could some of the possible numbers be?

Is there more than one pattern that emerges when the cells are filled in?

The approach to completing the pattern will typically be reading the rows of cells horizontally. It won't take the children long to see that the rule for the horizontal pattern does not apply to the vertical pattern.

But is there another way the vertical pattern can be described?

Once the cells are filled, the diagonal pattern will be easy to identify.

Ask children to add more rows of cells and extend the pattern.

Instead of numbers, letters of the alphabet or shapes can be used in the cells.