Sequence a Story

A California State Standard for kindergarten literacy is the ability to retell a familiar story in sequence.

Language to emphasize: first, next, last, before, after, future tense, present progressive tense, past tense

1. Photos will be taken of each child performing a simple action. Each series of photos will illustrate:
the action before it happens
the action as it is happening
the action completed
These photos will be used to work on verb tenses, for example: will sit, is sitting, sat. Students will be asked to sequence the photos in correct order. Then they will be asked to identify a photo as it is described, for example: "Show me "Suzie is sitting." Finally, a simple sentence will be written above each picture and the students will practice reading the sentences, using the correct verb tense.

2. Photos will also be taken of a longer activity, for example an art project or a cooking project. The students will be asked to sequence the photos. Then the photos will be set up in a center for the children to follow step-by-step for an independent art or cooking project.

3. Finally, photos will be taken of the children acting out a familiar story, such as "Goldilock and the Three Bears". Having the children act it out themselves is a concrete way to provide meaning to the language of the story. The class can then place the photos in the correct sequence and retell the story in their own words.