Professional Dev. Pattern Protocols

In addition to the shapes pattern activity to teach number systems, I use 4 varied types of candy for an unplugged activity with the students.
Each group gets a bowl of assorted candy and a large poster sheet for their group.
I start with a 2 candy pattern task and ask the students to create as many variations, then move to a 3 candy pattern and finally a 4 candy pattern.
The candy is an exciting motivator in that they get to split it up at the end among their group to eat and it provides a tangible manipulative for differentiated learning.
I always include 2 sugar/gluten free types out of the 4 variations of candy used for each group.