Sequencing with Nursery Rhymes

Sequencing is important as it helps a child comprehend what is read and identify with the beginning, middle and end of what they are reading.

We have done sequencing with storybooks and with nursery rhymes.  Nursery rhymes are most familiar to children and are a go to for parents, caregivers and teachers so they are a good place to start with a sequence activity.  A child's favorite story would also be good to use since the child will be familiar with the story line.

I used a piece of cardboard to make a book board which works very nicely for this kind of activity.  However, using a book board is absolutely not necessary and simply laying out the cards on a table or floor will work just as well!

Materials we used:

Cardboard
Velcro
Printed photos of nursery rhymes
Laminator (optional)

Remember if you are not using a book board simply print some photos or cut from magazines and/or newspapers.  Laminating is also not necessary it just preserves the photos.  

Teachers Pay Teachers is a great site and is where I found these nursery rhyme printables.  Once the nursery rhyme photos are printed:

• Laminate them
• Cut them out
• Put some velcro on the cardboard and on the back of the printables
•   Keep in mind if not using a book board just skip this part.

Sequencing on our book board

Sequencing without book board - just laid out on table

Figuring out order of Hey Diddle Diddle and Jack and Jill

Reciting the Nursery Rhymes

We also used one of our favorite stories, Hush, Little Ones by John Butler.  I printed off pictures of the  animals in the story and had my daughter arrange the animals in order as they are in the book. 

Sequencing does not need to be done only by using nursery rhymes or books.  If you don't have a printer to print off pictures, try cutting pictures from the newspaper or magazines and do a picture sequence.

You could sequence things like the life cycle of a caterpillar or bedtime routine. Be sure to use words like, "first", "next" and "last".

Sequencing might seem simple to teach but keep in mind it is a skill that is carried over to other areas so take the time necessary to ensure your child fully understands.