Sequencing Game for Kids with Following Directions Activities

When children are having a hard time telling a story or retelling a past event, they may be struggling with sequencing.  Sequencing is our ability to put the steps to something in order.  This free sequencing game will help you teach a child to put the steps to an activity in order.

Sequencing Board with Following Directions Card Set
Sequencing No-Prep Therapy Kit

Sequencing No-Prep Therapy Kit

Step-by-step plan for teaching a child to sequence and retell events

Following Directions Activity Cards:

In addition to working on sequencing, this board can also be used with the included following directions card set.  Use the same “1, 2, 3” sequencing board to create multi-step directions for the student to follow.

Sequencing Game Short Description:

This sequencing game is great for learning to follow directions and sequence common activities. This purchase will allow you to download a file with all of these pieces so you can make your own folder game. The board contains places for sequences of activities or directions up to 5 steps long. It also contains cards for 9 different sequences such as washing hands and making a sandwich, as well as 20 different direction cards (such as stomp foot or touch nose) that will allow you to create multi-step directions with visual cues.

*This purchase will allow you to download the PDF file for this product. You will need to print and assemble the product on your own.

Materials Needed:

One File Folder
• Paper to print this file
• Adhesive Velcro (such as dots or strips, can be found at walmart or craft stores)
• Metal rings to attach sequences together (if desired)

Sequencing Game Assembly Instructions:

1. Print out pages 4 and 5 on regular printer paper. Glue each page onto the left and right sides of
the inside of a file folder as pictured above. If desired, laminate the file folder for added protection.
2. Print page 6 on the front of a piece of on card stock or thicker printer paper. Print page 7 on the
back of that page. Print pages 8 and 9 on another piece of card stock with 9 on the back of 8.
Print page 10 on its own page. If desired, laminate these pages for added protection. Cut out
each piece and attach a piece of Velcro to the back of each one.
3. If desired, punch a hole in each of the sequencing cards. Then, attach the cards from each sequence
together on a ring or tie with string. This will help you keep the pieces together.
4. Place Velcro pieces on the file folder above each number on the sequence strips. Make sure to
use the opposite side of the Velcro from the ones you put on the pieces.
5. Use the game as described in the instructions on the following pages. Choose one skill that your
child needs to work on and do the activity for that skill.

Speech and Language Activities

Set One: Following Directions

Use the “Following Directions” set to practice unfamiliar multi-step directions. Pick out actions from the deck of cards and Velcro them to the board on either the 3, 4, or 5-step sequence strip (for two steps, use the first and last spots on the 3-step strip). Then, ask your
child to follow the directions. Make sure you use the words “first, next, and last” in your directions.

You could say something like “first touch your nose, then clap your hands, last turn
around”. Make sure you start with just one direction at a time and only move to adding more
steps when your child can do that well. It may take a while to build up to being able to do
longer directions.

Game Ideas:
• Start small: Working on 3-step directions? First, just place one action on the strip. Once your child can do that one, leave that action and add a second step. This is a great way to build your way up to longer sequences with children that are still having trouble.
• Follow the Leader: Take turns being the leader. You or your child will pull 3, 4, or 5 cards from the pile and place them on the strip. Read the directions out loud and let the other person use the visual aid to act it out. Who can come up with the funniest sequences??
• Make up your own directions: Take pictures of your children doing silly things. Print and add
Velcro for a personalized touch!
• If your child is doing really well with this, put the pictures on the strip but don’t let him/her see the pictures. Say the directions out loud and see if your child can follow without looking. Then, show him/her at the end to check.

Set Two: Sequencing Game: Common Events

Use the “Sequencing Events” pack to practice sequencing the steps to common activities.
Each sequence has five steps which are numbered on the back. Follow the blue numbers to
find which cards to use for the three-step sequence. Follow the red numbers for four steps or
the green for all five steps. You can also use this board for your own sequences. Take pictures of your children performing an action and cut out the steps. They’ll love seeing themselves in the pictures!

Game Directions:
• Choose a sequence and lay the steps out in front of your child in a random order. Show your
child how to put them in order and place them on the correct strip (based on how many cards
there are). Once you get the sequence put together, read the sequence to your child (such as
“first he ____, then he ____, last he _____.”
• Now, take the pictures off and see if your child can put them back in the right order. If not, show him again the same way as before.
• Once your child can do that sequence, try some other ones. When he/she starts getting really good, add more steps.

Other Game Ideas:

Answering Questions:

Once you complete the sequence, ask your child questions about what happened. You can ask “what” questions such as “What did we do first?” or “when” questions such as “When did he jump?”

Increasing Utterance Length with Grammatical Markers:

Pronouns: Help your child use complete sentences with correct pronouns when talking about the steps. Examples: “First you turn on the water, next you get some soap…” or “He jumped and clapped his hands”.

Possessive Pronouns: Ask your child “What did your friend do? Did he touch his head” or “stomp her feet?” Talk about those possessive pronouns as you go along.

Past tense: After the sequence is completed, talk about what the person or character did. Examples: “Chris jumped” or “The bear fell asleep”. Make sure your child uses the past tense of the word.

Social Skills: During this game, your child can practice turn-taking and good topic maintenance. He can also work on paying attention and listening by trying to complete the actions without the pictures and then checking to see if he was correct.

Vocabulary: Use these card sets to practice naming body parts or labeling objects/actions in the pictures. With the sequencing events deck, show your child the steps and ask her to identify what that person is doing (example: washing hands, etc.)

Other Uses:

This board can also be used for visual schedules and teaching skills such as the steps to an activity or how to use the restroom. Take pictures of your child doing all of the steps and then put them on the strip in the correct order. When your child finishes a step in the routine, he can take that picture off.

Click the link below to download your free copy

Sequencing No-Prep Therapy Kit

Sequencing No-Prep Therapy Kit

Step-by-step plan for teaching a child to sequence and retell events

Carrie Clark, Speech-Language Pathologist

About the Author: Carrie Clark, MA CCC-SLP

Hi, I’m Carrie! I’m a speech-language pathologist from Columbia, Missouri, USA. I’ve worked with children and teenagers of all ages in schools, preschools, and even my own private practice. I love digging through the research on speech and language topics and breaking it down into step-by-step plans for my followers.

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