Inside: Learn story sequence with A Long Winter’s Nap. The perfect winter book for preschoolers.
Looking to chat about story sequences with your preschooler?
I’ve got the best winter book suggestion!
I adore A Long Winter’s Nap.
This book will have everyone laughing as you anticipate the turtle’s reaction to his wintery napping disruptions.
A Long Winter’s Nap is also a great way to begin the discussion of story sequence. A critical reading skill that we MUST practice with our young children!
RELATED: Want hands-on ideas for your children without a Google search? You will love our activity cards!
Why Teach Story Sequence?
Good readers:
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Make predictions as they read.
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Think about how the book makes them feel.
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Anticipate what may happen at the end of the story.
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Use story events in order to retell the story
We can have these meaningful conversations with our children as we read!
Right now is a valuable time to deepen the understanding of story sequence, and develop good reading habits.
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As a former classroom teacher, comprehension is a skill that many children are lacking.
There is so much more to reading than learning how to read the words on the paper.
We must spend time diving into the story sequence to deepen comprehension and understand the author’s purpose.
RELATED: This is a great article about what reading readiness has to do with the body.
So how do you teach a sequence of events to preschoolers?
For this story sequence activity, I used something I already owned: three wooden blocks.
WHY?
Preschoolers need tangible objects they can hold, move and manipulate in order to learn and remember.
I knew that placing the blocks on the story events as we read with help make a visual for the story sequence.
Objects do not have to be fancy, expensive or perfect. They simply just need to be held.
RELATED: Are you also a believer in hands-on learning? These 50+ kid activities at home will keep you busy all winter long!
How does a story sequence relate to KIndergarten?
According to the Common Core Standards, your child will be asked to:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
This story sequence activity using A Loud Winter’s Nap will prompt conversations that will talk about key details, character, setting and major events in a story.
You can begin to work on some MAJOR reading skills right now in your home!
Set up this story sequence in a flash!
On my white paper, I quickly sketched three scenes from the book.
Remember, you do not have to be an artist. Make a quick sketch that is linked to a story event from the plot in A Long Winter’s Nap.
Draw:
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an image from the beginning of the story
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an image from the middle of the story
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an image from the end of the story
Remember preschoolers are not looking for perfection! They will be impressed with your quick sketches.
Supplies can vary!
Since we are in the midst of winter, I love using A Loud Winter’s nap to retell the plot.
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Such a simple sequencing game to play!
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Read A Loud Winter’s Nap multiple times.
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Use your illustrations as a visual marker to something that happens in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
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As you reread the story, ask your preschooler to place the blocks on each story event.
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Try phrases such as You’re right! At the beginning of the story, the turtle had just laid down for his long winter’s nap.
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Continue to use phrases like this as you land in the middle and the end of the story.
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Once finished reading, go over each part of the story sharing what you remember about the beginning, middle, and end
The story sequence doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be discussed.
You can begin to do this at home with your preschooler!
Next, head over to our favorite 20+ Book Activities for Preschoolers!
