NCERT Maths Mela, Class 4, textbook pages 34–38
How to teach Class 4 Maths Chapter 3, Pattern Around Us, at home
Counting in patterns and arrangements, taught with things you already have at home: a 10-minute activity, a game for the week, a 5-day plan and the mistakes to watch for.
NCERT Class 4 Maths Chapter 3 Pattern Around Us: what it teaches
Rows of trees, trays of laddoos and piles of coins can be counted fast by spotting the pattern: rows times columns, trays times layers. Your child counts the same arrangement in different ways and checks they agree.
Why it matters later. Seeing arrangements as rows times columns is the foundation of multiplication and area.
See it: this chapter in pictures
You need
- coins of ₹1, ₹2, ₹5 and ₹10 (or play money)
- an egg tray or muffin tray
- beans or small sweets
Tonight’s 10 minutes
- Arrange 12 beans in rows. Count them two ways: 3 rows of 4 and 4 columns of 3.
- Stack two trays with the same arrangement. How many in all without counting one by one?
- Arrange coins to show ₹36 in a neat pattern. Ask someone else to count it.
- Make triangles of coins (1, then 2, then 3 in a row). How many coins for 5 rows?
Words to use
- rows
- columns
- layers
- arrangement
- pattern
- groups of
Watch for
- Counting one by one every time. Ask “How many in one row? How many rows?” before counting.
- Double counting at corners of shapes. Mark each counted item with a small dot or move it.
What it sounds like at home
A short example of the conversation. Your words will differ; the questions are what matter.
YouHow many laddoos in this tray?
Your child4 rows of 3, so 12.
YouTwo trays stacked?
Your child24.
YouCount it another way to check.
Your child3 columns of 4 per tray… still 24.
A game for this week: Tray race
- Arrange beans in a tray in neat rows.
- The other player has 5 seconds to say how many.
- Check by counting rows × columns.
- Take turns making harder arrangements.
A 5-day plan, 10 minutes a day
- Day 1Count arrays two ways.
- Day 2Stacked trays.
- Day 3Money patterns.
- Day 4Coin triangles.
- Day 5Tray race game.
Everyday moments to practise
- Seats in a cinema: rows and columns.
- Eggs in trays.
- Window panes in a building.
- Coins arranged to count quickly.
Quick check
Ask these at the end of the week. Tap to see the answer.
4 rows of 6 laddoos: how many?
24.
Two trays each with 12 pedas, stacked: how many?
24.
Coins in a triangle of 4 rows (1+2+3+4)?
10.
Ready for the next chapter when your child…
- Counts arrangements using rows and columns.
- Checks counts two ways.
- Counts money arranged in patterns.
Activities, wording and illustrations are Mathify Kids’ own, following the topics of NCERT’s Maths Mela (Class 4). See the full Class 4 parent guide for every chapter.
Questions parents ask
What does Pattern Around Us teach?
Counting quickly by spotting patterns in arrangements, including money.
Why count the same thing two ways?
To check the answer and see that multiplication works either way.
How is this linked to multiplication?
3 rows of 4 is 3 × 4.