Let's Sequence Stories! Learning What Happens First, Next, and Last

English Language Arts Grades Pre-K 6:09 Video
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Lesson Description

This lesson uses short stories from a video to help Pre-K students understand sequencing: what happens first, next, and last in a story. We'll use pictures and actions to retell the stories together!

Video Resource

Sequencing Stories - Episode 12

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Duration: 6:09
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Sequencing events
  • Retelling stories
  • Understanding story order (first, next, last)

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the beginning, middle, and end of a simple story.
  • Students will be able to retell a story in the correct order using pictures or actions.
  • Students will improve listening and comprehension skills.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Greet students and introduce the concept of 'story order'. Ask if they know what 'first,' 'next,' and 'last' mean. Briefly explain that stories have a beginning, middle, and end, and that's what we will be learning today.
  • Watch the Video (10 mins)
    Play the YouTube video 'Sequencing Stories - Episode 12' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMT4IRAfxVA). Pause after each short story.
  • Story Retell and Sequencing (15 mins)
    After each short story, ask the students what happened 'first', 'next', and 'last'. Use gestures and simple language. For example, for the 'A Nice Turtle' story: 'First, the ball was on the beach. Next, the boy chased the ball into the sea. Last, the turtle saved the boy!'
  • Activity: Acting Out the Stories (10 mins)
    Choose one or two stories from the video. Have the children act out the story in order. Guide them by asking 'What happens first?', 'What happens next?', 'And what happens last?'
  • Wrap Up (5 mins)
    Review the concepts of 'first', 'next', and 'last'. Ask the children to think about a story they know and tell you one thing that happens in it. Praise their efforts and participation.

Interactive Exercises

  • Story Sequencing Cards
    Create simple picture cards for one of the stories (e.g., 'Visiting Grandma'). Have the children arrange the cards in the correct order to retell the story.
  • Acting Out
    Have the children volunteer to act out the different parts of the story, and guide them to do so in the correct sequence.

Discussion Questions

  • What happened at the very beginning of the story?
  • What happened after that? What happened next?
  • How did the story end? What happened last?

Skills Developed

  • Listening comprehension
  • Storytelling and retelling
  • Sequencing skills
  • Vocabulary

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

In the turtle story, what happened FIRST?

Correct Answer: The ball was on the beach.

Question 2:

In the grandma story, what happened LAST?

Correct Answer: The girls gave grandma the baskets.

Question 3:

In the swing story, what happened FIRST?

Correct Answer: A happy girl swung on the swing.

Question 4:

What does 'next' mean?

Correct Answer: After first, before last

Question 5:

What does 'last' mean?

Correct Answer: The end of the story

Question 6:

In the pelican story, what happened FIRST?

Correct Answer: The children played tennis.

Question 7:

In the pelican story, what happened LAST?

Correct Answer: The children were surprised.

Question 8:

In the bowling story, what happened FIRST?

Correct Answer: The pins were standing.

Question 9:

In the bowling story, what happened LAST?

Correct Answer: It was a strike.

Question 10:

What is a story?

Correct Answer: Something that tells a story.

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

In a story, the first thing that happens is called ________.

Correct Answer: first

Question 2:

When we put things in order, it is called __________.

Correct Answer: sequencing

Question 3:

The grandma's house story was about two ________.

Correct Answer: girls

Question 4:

The ______ saved the boy in the ocean.

Correct Answer: turtle

Question 5:

The girl fell off the ______.

Correct Answer: swing

Question 6:

In the pelican story, the pelican ate the ______.

Correct Answer: ball

Question 7:

The children were very ________ when the pelican ate their ball.

Correct Answer: surprised

Question 8:

When all the bowling pins fall down, it's called a _________.

Correct Answer: strike

Question 9:

Bowling uses a round _________.

Correct Answer: ball

Question 10:

We can learn by reading _________.

Correct Answer: stories

Educational Standards

PK.2.R:Students will begin to retell or reenact major events or details from a read-aloud. PK.3.R.2:Students will answer basic questions (e.g., who, what, where, and when) about texts, photographs, or illustrations during shared reading or other text experiences with prompting. PK.4.R.3:Students will begin to acquire new vocabulary and relate new words to prior knowledge. PK.1.L.1:Students will actively listen using agreed-upon rules with prompting. PK.1.S.4:Students will orally describe personal interests or tell stories to peers and adults with prompting.

Teaching Materials

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