Next in Line

NCERT anchor: NCERT Joyful Mathematics Class 1 — left-to-right sequence activities

• Pick what comes next in a left-to-right row of shapes, colours, or numbers.
• Read the row like English — start left, move right.
• Use the pattern rule from earlier items.

1. Direction matters

Level 1 (Verbal): Read → this way, not ← backwards unless asked.

Level 2 (Symbolic): Position 1, 2, 3… next is last + 1 position.

Visual: Arrow under row pointing right.

2. Use pattern from start

First three items often show the rule for the whole row.

3. Next = one step after last

Not two steps ahead — only immediate next.

Queue of children by height pattern

Step 1 — Cutouts: short, tall, short, tall, short, ?
Step 2 — Pattern alternates short/tall left to right.
Step 3 — Last is short → next is **tall**.
Step 4 — Point to empty spot on the right.
Answer: tall figure next.

• Next: ★ ◆ ★ ◆ ★ ?
• Next: 2, 4, 6, ?
• Row ends with blue — pattern red, blue, red, blue?
• Stretch: Row has 5 items and pattern length 2 — what is item 6?

Revision tip: Point with finger left to right — stop at blank — predict next.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Next in Line.