How to Sequence With Children's Stories
Sequencing is the act of putting things into chronological order. This skill is commonly the focus of lessons in early elementary school when children first begin to deal with the textual element of plot. The ability to sequence can improve an individual's overall reading comprehension. Teachers can help their students improve their sequencing abilities by engaging in ordering activities. Picture books are a useful tool for teaching sequencing as they provide a short, concise story that students can easily use to practice their ordering skills.
Things You'll Need
- Picture books
- Chalkboard
- Chalk
- Index cards
- Pen or Marker
- Paperback picture books
Instructions
-
-
1
Read a picture book aloud to students. Select a picture book that has a relatively simple plot, allowing students to begin practicing sequencing with an easy example.
-
2
Ask students to tell you what happened in the book. After you read the book, ask students to volunteer events that happened in the book.
-
-
3
Write the events on the chalkboard in the order in which they occurred. Write the first event given near the center of the board, when the next student volunteers an event, ask the class whether that even happened before or after the first, and write it on the board accordingly. Continue in this same fashion until you have listed all of the main events.
-
4
Create event cards for a second book. Select another picture book and, prior to reading it to the class, list the events in the book on index cards. You may make enough copies of these cards for each student, or just make five or six copies and allow students to work in groups.
-
5
Read the second book aloud to the students.
-
6
Pass out the event cards and ask the individual students or student groups to put the events in order.
-
7
Create a sequencing game. To finish you your introduction to sequencing, collect some inexpensive, paperback picture books.
-
8
Cut the pages out of each picture book.
-
9
Cut off or black out the numbers if the pages are numbered.
-
10
Ask students to put the pages back in the proper order by reading the story and completing the sequence of events.
-
1
