Encourage students to discuss the possibility of there being more than one pattern that could be made when inserting the missing piece. A student, or the teacher, claps a pattern, or plays a pattern with a musical instrument. A partner, or the rest of the class in a whole-group activity, replicates the rhythmic pattern. Body motions can be added to the rhythmic pattern. Repeat several times with different patterns.
Students look at the symbols as they repeat the pattern.
Several different instruments or sounds can be used to fit the same written pattern, and students can discuss similarities and differences. Students work in pairs. One partner acts out a pattern, e.g. hop,hop, step, hop, hop, step. The other partner copies the pattern and predicts what should come next. Students trade places and repeat the activity.