Using a Pattern to Predict
A 55-minute Grade 3 lesson on measuring an object's motion and using the pattern to predict what it will do next.
Using a Pattern to Predict is a free 55-minute Grade 3 science lesson plan for Common Core standard 3-PS2-2 — use a pattern in an object's motion to predict where it goes next. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 3
- Length:
- 55 minutes
- Standard:
- 3-PS2-2
Grade 3 · Physical Science
3-PS2-2
Make observations and/or measurements of an object’s motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.
Objective
Students will be able to use repeated measurements of a motion to make and justify a prediction.
Students are successful when they can
- Repeats the measurement several times.
- States the pattern.
- Predicts and says what the prediction rests on.
What you need
- String, weights and a timer for pendulums
- A results table with four trial columns
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up
5 min- Swing a pendulum and ask how many swings it will give in ten seconds.
- Take the guesses, then count once.
Teach — one result is not a pattern
14 min- Count the swings in ten seconds. Record it.
- Ask whether that one number is enough to predict. It is not.
- Repeat three more times: 9, 9, 10, 9.
- Ask what makes the prediction safe now: four results that agree.
- Predict trial five and test it.
- Change the string length and ask whether the old pattern still holds. It does not.
“What did it do every time? Then what will it do next?”
Investigate — four trials each
19 min- Pairs build a pendulum and count swings in ten seconds, four times.
- They record all four and write the pattern.
- They predict a fifth trial, then run it.
- They change one thing and show the pattern changes with it.
Independent practice
14 min- Students complete the 'Using a Pattern to Predict' page.
- Check predictions come with a reason.
Close
3 min- Ask which pattern in the room could be used to predict something.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Predicts from a single trial.
Why: One number is an answer.
Fix: Run it again. If the two disagree, one was not enough.
Thinks a pattern must be exactly the same each time.
Why: 9, 9, 10 looks broken.
Fix: Close agreement is a pattern. Exactness is not required.
Keeps the old prediction after changing the set-up.
Why: The pendulum still looks the same.
Fix: A longer string is a different set-up. The pattern has to be measured again.
If they are not there yet
- Two trials rather than four.
- A table with the first two results filled.
If they finish early
- Find what changes the number of swings and what does not.
- Predict for a string twice as long, then test.
- Say how many trials would make you confident.
Exit ticket
A pendulum gives 9, 9, 10 and 9 swings in ten seconds. Predict the next trial and say why.
What to look for: About 9 swings, because four trials agreed closely. A prediction with no reason means the pattern step is missing.
Printable practice for 3-PS2-2
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Using a Pattern to PredictCircle the best answer.
Questions about Using a Pattern to Predict
How long does the Using a Pattern to Predict lesson take?
55 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 14 min, investigate 19 min, independent practice 14 min, close 3 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Using a Pattern to Predict teach?
3-PS2-2 — 3-PS2-2, Physical Science for Grade 3: “Make observations and/or measurements of an object’s motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.” In plain terms, use a pattern in an object's motion to predict where it goes next.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
String, weights and a timer for pendulums, a results table with four trial columns and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: predicts from a single trial; thinks a pattern must be exactly the same each time and keeps the old prediction after changing the set-up. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “A pendulum gives 9, 9, 10 and 9 swings in ten seconds. Predict the next trial and say why.” About 9 swings, because four trials agreed closely. A prediction with no reason means the pattern step is missing. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Using a Pattern to Predict?
Yes — 1 printable 3-PS2-2 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Using a Pattern to Predict free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 8 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-08. Aligned to 3-PS2-2 of the Next Generation Science Standards.