---
title: "Maths in How we express ourselves: pattern, symmetry and rhythm"
description: "Two units for the How we express ourselves island on Explorisle, Patterns and Music and rhythm: the maths in each station, a decision post, classroom tasks."
image: https://asurekha.com/hubfs/explorisle/app/share-1200x630.png
---

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● Unit of inquiry resource

# Maths in How we express ourselves

This theme is about voices, ideas and making. The maths is pattern: continue a repeat, find the line of symmetry, count the beats in a bar, and then choose a mural where every option is right.

Ameera Surekha, who built Explorisle at home for one child · 26 September 2026

## The theme, in one paragraph

How we express ourselves is one of the six transdisciplinary themes used by IB PYP schools. On the island it carries two units. A teacher sets one as the class goal and the children who join get it.

## Unit one: Patterns

**Central idea (the island's own words):** People express ideas through pattern, shape and rhythm.

**Lines of inquiry:** patterns around us; symmetry and shape; rhythm and repetition. **Concepts:** form, connection, perspective.

| Station | What the child does | The maths |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Continue the pattern | carries on a repeating pattern, counting in steps | Pattern and function: skip counting, the tables as patterns |
| The symmetry | finds the line of symmetry in a shape | Shape and space |
| The rhythm | counts beats and bars | Pattern and function |

**The decision post, The mural:** Stripes in two colours, a checkerboard, a spiral, or a border that repeats? There is no wrong answer; the child gives a reason, and the reason lands on the class sheet.

**The exhibit:** finish the stations and the child earns a mural for their own plot.

## Unit two: Music and rhythm

**Central idea (the island's own words):** Rhythm is pattern you can hear, and people make it together.

**Lines of inquiry:** beats and bars; patterns in sound; making music together. **Concepts:** form, function, connection.

| Station | What the child does | The maths |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beats in a bar | counts beats in twos, threes and fours | Pattern and function: the 2, 3 and 4 tables |
| Long and short | measures note lengths | Measurement: time |
| The instruments | sorts sounds into families | Sorting |

**The decision post, The tempo:** Slow so everyone keeps together, fast so it sounds alive, or somewhere between? There is no wrong answer; the child gives a reason, and the reason lands on the class sheet.

**The exhibit:** finish the stations and the child earns a mural for their own plot.

## Tasks for the classroom without a screen

- Clap the two times table. Then the three. Then both at once and listen for where they meet.
- Paint half a butterfly, fold, press. Where is the line? What about a shape with two lines?
- A pattern of beads for the whole class: red, red, blue. What colour is bead 40? Predict, then count.

## The evidence sheet

On the island, tap **For teachers** on the first screen, make a class (you get a six-character code and a teacher key), set the level for the class, and pick this unit as the class goal. Children join with the code and a seat number; no name, no email. The **evidence sheet** in the class view prints the central idea, the lines of inquiry, the concepts, what each station practised, and every seat's findings and reasons, ready to paste into your planner.

On the island

[Open the theme islands](https://explorisle.asurekha.com)[About Explorisle](https://asurekha.com/explorisle?hsLang=en-gb)

**Not on the island yet:** a unit on tessellation and one on scale in drawing. On the list.

Read next

- [Maths inside a unit of inquiry, without losing the maths](https://asurekha.com/explorisle/teachers/maths-in-a-unit-of-inquiry?hsLang=en-gb)
- [The primary maths scope and sequence, explained](https://asurekha.com/explorisle/maths/scope-and-sequence?hsLang=en-gb)
- [Sharing the planet](https://asurekha.com/explorisle/units/sharing-the-planet?hsLang=en-gb)
- [How we organise ourselves](https://asurekha.com/explorisle/units/how-we-organise-ourselves?hsLang=en-gb)

Explorisle is an independent product of A Surekha (the registered business of Ameera Surekha). It is not endorsed by, affiliated with or licensed by the International Baccalaureate Organization. IB, PYP and International Baccalaureate are registered trademarks of the IBO.

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