Special Feature Lesson:

Put It In Order!

Overview:
Children must correctly order the steps in various activities to show their correct sequence.

Curriculum Focus:
• language arts

Materials:

• What Happens Next? sheets
Brush Your Teeth
Grow a Plant
Mail a Letter
Bake a Cake

Activity:
Before presenting this activity, make enough copies of the What Happens Next? sheets for each child to use. To begin the activity, review the More About story. Remind children there are three stages to a wetland project: before, during and after. Explain also that each step described must happen in a certain order for the job to be done properly. Ask children what would happen if the steps got mixed up.

Ask children if they can think of examples of daily activities that happen in a certain order. If they need prompting, mention activities such as meal time (dinner comes before dessert), or getting dressed (socks go on before shoes). Pass out copies of the What Happens Next? sheets. Be sure children understand the directions. Share results when all children have finished their sheets.

Extension Idea: Games often are played out in a specific order. Hopscotch, baseball and bingo are a few examples. Work as a class to create an original game. Decide upon the rules, and write them on the board. Discuss how the rules control the sequence of steps involved from start to finish.