Kids will practice picking out main events and retelling them in order with this engaging Stellaluna sequencing activity for older kids.
We’ve featured quite a few story sequencing activities here on the blog. Most of those are geared toward younger children as they only require cutting and pasting pictures from the story.
I’ve received a request for sequencing activities for older children, and Stellaluna is perfect for this time of year! Add it to your Halloween, nocturnal animals, owls, or bat-themed homeschool lessons.
To sequence a story, students must first read it. After reading Stellaluna, have students draw four main events from the story. They should then describe what happens in each event.
This will help them to understand the story’s plot and better remember the events that took place. This activity is great for practicing sequencing and retelling a story. It can also be used to assess comprehension.
Story Sequencing
Sequencing is the ability to put events in order. It sounds simple, but it’s actually a pretty complex skill.
Why Sequence Stories?
Sequencing stories helps students in a number of ways. First, it helps them understand the beginning, middle, and end of a story. This is essential for comprehension.
Second, it helps them identify the main events in a story. This is important for drawing conclusions and making predictions.
Third, it helps them understand how to sequence events. This is a valuable life skill that will come in handy in all sorts of situations.
Tips for Incorporating Sequencing into Your Lessons
There are lots of ways to incorporate sequencing into your lessons. One way is to have students retell stories that they’ve read or heard.
Another way is to have students put pictures from a story in order. You can also give students blank strips of paper and have them draw pictures from a story and then sequence the pictures.
And don’t forget about technology! There are lots of great apps and websites that allow students to sequence stories electronically.
Stellaluna Sequencing
The goal of this lesson is to help students understand the sequence of events in a story. In order to assess whether or not students have learned this skill, ask them to sequence four events from a story. T
hey should be able to identify the beginning, middle, and end of the story, as well as the main events. They should also be able to explain what happens in each event.
What You’ll Need
- copy of the book Stellaluna
- paper
- crayons or markers
- pencil
What You’ll Do
To kick off this lesson, read Stellaluna aloud to your students. After reading the story aloud, discuss the plot with your students.
Hand out the sequencing worksheet. Tell students they will now draw four main events from the story.
Have them draw the first scene in the box at the top of the page. Then, once they’ve drawn their first event, have them begin describing what happens in that scene.
Tell students that they will repeat this process for the remaining three events. When they’ve completed the activity, have them share their page with you.
Finally, discuss the sequence of events in the story and how they helped to tell the story’s plot.
Bat Books for Kids
Bats are one of the most misunderstood animals on earth. They get a bad rap for being dirty and scary, but in reality, they are gentle creatures that play a vital role in our ecosystem.
If you want to teach your child about bats, there are many great bat-themed picture books for kids to choose from. Some of my favorites include
- The Magic School Bus in the Bat Cave by Jeanette Lane – Bats are living at Tim’s house . . . but where did they come from? Ms. Frizzle and her class are on the case! Climb on board the Magic School Bus and find out about the fascinating world of bats.
- The Berenstain Bear Scouts in Giant Bat Cave by Stan and Jan Berenstain – The Bear Scouts discover that Ralph Ripoff plans to turn the Giant Bat Cave into an underground amusement park. But that means all of Bear Country’s bats will be without a home! Can the Bear Scouts save Giant Bat Cave before Ralph Ripoff goes through with his latest scheme?
- The Bat Cave by Jonathan Walker – Discover how Jack the bat overcomes the biggest challenge he will ever face!
These books will teach your child about the different kinds of bats, their habits and habitats, and why they are important to our environment.
They will also learn that bats are not as scary as they seem, and that they should be appreciated for all they do to help keep our planet healthy.
Bat Activities for Kids
Bats are one of the most fascinating creatures on earth, and there are many ways to teach your child about them. One way is to engage in hands-on activities that allow them to explore bats up close.
Some great bat-themed activities for kids include making a bat cave out of household materials, creating a bat mobile, and painting with bat wings.
These activities will help your child learn about the different kinds of bats, their habits and habitats, and why they are important to our environment. They will also have fun exploring bats in a hands-on way.
Engaging in these activities will help your child appreciate bats for all they do to help keep our planet healthy. It will also foster a love of learning about the natural world and all the amazing creatures that live in it.