Thinkabara

🎞️ Sequencing & retelling

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Putting events in order helps children retell stories, explain how to do things and use words like first, next, then and last. Tap the steps in order, then retell the whole sequence out loud.

Tips for parents and teachers

  • After ordering, retell with sequence words: "First…, next…, then…, last…".
  • Act out the sequence for real — make the sandwich, plant the seed.
  • Start with 3 steps, then move to 4 and 5.

All picture sequences

Making a sandwich: 🍞 Get two slices of bread. → 🥜 Spread peanut butter. → 🍓 Add jelly. → 🥪 Put the slices together and eat.

Brushing teeth: 🪥 Get your toothbrush. → 🧴 Put on toothpaste. → 😁 Brush all your teeth. → 🚰 Rinse and spit.

Planting a seed: 🕳️ Dig a hole. → 🌰 Drop in the seed. → 💧 Water it. → 🌻 A flower grows.

Washing hands: 🚰 Turn on the water. → 🧼 Rub with soap. → 💦 Rinse your hands. → 🧻 Dry them with a towel.

Building a snowman: ⚪ Roll a big snowball. → ⚪ Put a smaller ball on top. → 🥕 Add a carrot nose. → ⛄ Say hello to your snowman!

A chick hatches: 🥚 The hen lays an egg. → 🪺 The hen sits on the egg. → 🐣 The egg cracks. → 🐥 A chick comes out.

Getting ready for bed: 🛁 Take a bath. → 🩳 Put on pajamas. → 📖 Read a story. → 😴 Go to sleep.

Baking cookies: 🥣 Mix the dough. → 🍪 Shape the cookies. → 🔥 Bake them in the oven. → 😋 Let them cool and eat.

🖨️ Printables

Press Print above to print the task cards below on US Letter paper.

Sequence retell cards

FIRST… 1️⃣
NEXT… 2️⃣
THEN… 3️⃣
LAST… 4️⃣
Tell me how to make a sandwich. 🥪
Tell me how you get ready for school. 🎒
Tell me how to wash a dog. 🐕
Tell me how to plant a flower. 🌻
Tell me what you did this morning. 🌅
Tell me how to make a bed. 🛏️
Tell me how to build a snowman. ⛄
Tell me how to brush your teeth. 🪥
Cut along the dashed lines · Free printable from Thinkabara · thinkabara.com/speech/language/sequencing

Cut and sequence

Cut out the pictures, mix them up, then glue them in order: first, next, then, last.

Making a sandwich
🍓Add jelly.
🥜Spread peanut butter.
🍞Get two slices of bread.
🥪Put the slices together and eat.
Brushing teeth
🚰Rinse and spit.
🧴Put on toothpaste.
🪥Get your toothbrush.
😁Brush all your teeth.
Planting a seed
💧Water it.
🕳️Dig a hole.
🌻A flower grows.
🌰Drop in the seed.
Washing hands
🧼Rub with soap.
💦Rinse your hands.
🚰Turn on the water.
🧻Dry them with a towel.
Free printable from Thinkabara · thinkabara.com/speech/language/sequencing

Cut and sequence

Cut out the pictures, mix them up, then glue them in order: first, next, then, last.

Building a snowman
🥕Add a carrot nose.
⚪Roll a big snowball.
⚪Put a smaller ball on top.
⛄Say hello to your snowman!
A chick hatches
🐣The egg cracks.
🐥A chick comes out.
🥚The hen lays an egg.
🪺The hen sits on the egg.
Getting ready for bed
🛁Take a bath.
😴Go to sleep.
📖Read a story.
🩳Put on pajamas.
Baking cookies
🥣Mix the dough.
🍪Shape the cookies.
🔥Bake them in the oven.
😋Let them cool and eat.
Free printable from Thinkabara · thinkabara.com/speech/language/sequencing

Frequently asked questions

Why is sequencing important?

Sequencing is the base of storytelling, following routines and reading comprehension. Children who can order events can retell what happened, explain how to do something and predict what comes next.

What are sequence words?

Words that show order: first, next, then, after that, finally and last. Teaching them gives children a simple frame for retelling any story.

More language activities

🧺Categories & vocabulary❓WH questions (who, what, where, when, why)👣Following directions🧱Grammar (plurals, pronouns, verbs)📦Prepositions & spatial concepts⭐Describing & "Who am I?" riddles🤝Social language & feelings

Related pages

All speech therapy activitiesLanguage milestones by ageAAC boards