Children's Museum of Houston

Did you know?

What you need

• Grid paper
• Crayons or markers

What to do

1. Cut a 6 x 10-square grid out of the grid paper.
2. Write your first name over and over again until you run out of spaces. Do not skip spaces between the end and beginning of your name. Just keep writing.
3. Next pick two colors. Use one color to color the grid square of each of the first letters of your name. Use the other color to color the rest of the letters.
4. After you have it colored, do you see a pattern?
5. You may be able to find someone else who has a similar pattern or even exactly the same!
6. Whose name pattern is most different from yours? (For example see "Download")

What to ask

• Which lines across are exactly alike?
• How many times does each line repeat?
• What would happen to your pattern if you made it on a larger or smaller grid?
• Can you predict another name that would have a pattern just like yours?

What’s next?

• Make a name pattern on a 5x5 or a 6 x 6 grid. How does the pattern change?
• What if you do it on a bigger grid, like 10x10 or 11x11?
• Make a grid using your last name.
• Find as many words as you can that have the same pattern. Do they have anything in common?