Story Steps Anchor Cards Story Steps Anchor Cards
What do Beginning, Middle, and End mean? • Cut & Display
Kindergarten Sequencing
1
Step 1
Beginning
FIRST
The very start of the story!
This is where we meet the character and see what they are doing before the journey starts.
Ask: "Who is in the story and where do they start?"
2
Step 2
Middle
NEXT / THEN
The adventure and action happens!
The character is on the move, travels over places, or tries to solve a problem.
Ask: "What is the big action or journey in between?"
3
Step 3
End
LAST / FINALLY
How the story finishes!
The journey is over, the character is safe at home, or everything wraps up happily.
Ask: "How did the story finish? Where did they end up?"
Sequencing Rhyme & Clap
“First is the start, Next is the middle, Last is the end of the riddle!”
1. Start 2. Move 3. Home
Sequencing Work Mat
Place the 3 picture cards in order from left to right
Hands-On Mat
Story Direction
FIRST NEXT LAST
Left to Right →
1 • Beginning
What happened FIRST?
Place Beginning Card Here
🌱 Story Starts Here
2 • Middle
What happened NEXT?
Place Middle Card Here
🚀 The Long Journey
3 • End
What happened LAST?
Place End Card Here
⭐ Safe at Home
Student Retell Sentence Frame
“First , bird started. Next , bird flew far. Last , bird arrived home!”
Check: 1 → 2 → 3
Bird Events Picture Cards Bird Goes Home Story Cards
Cut along dashed lines • Mix up cards before giving to student
Hands-On Event Cards
Card Administration Note: All 3 cards feature uniform neutral borders so the student sequences based strictly on explicit plot actions, not color matching.
Story Event
Bird starts flying over the tree.
The little bird leaves the park and spreads her wings to begin the long journey.
Key Detail: Leaving the park • Takes off in the sky
Story Event
Bird flies over city, cars, and mountains.
The bird travels a very long way over streets, tall buildings, and rocky mountains.
Key Detail: Traveling far • Flying over many places
♪ ♫
Story Event
Bird goes home to her nest and babies.
The flight is finished! Bird lands happily in the warm nest with her two chirping chicks.
Key Detail: Safe at home • Back in the nest with family
Shuffle cards before handing them to the student. Ask: “Show me what happened first, next, and last!”
3 Cards Total
Sequencing Flight Assessment
Story: Bird Goes Home by Cheryl Ryan
Name:
Date:
IEP Target: Sequence 3 explicit plot actions (Beginning, Middle, End) Goal Criteria: ≤ 1 verbal prompt
1 • Beginning
What happened FIRST?
Glue Card 1 Here
First: Bird starts journey
2 • Middle
What happened NEXT?
Glue Card 2 Here
Next: Bird flies over city & cars
3 • End
What happened LAST?
Glue Card 3 Here
Last: Bird is safe in nest
Student Verbal Retell Check:
Student points to each card and retells: “First, _____. Next, _____. Last, _____.”
Student Effort:
Teacher IEP Data Tracking Opportunity 1 of 5
Prompt Level Required for Accurate Chronological Sequence:
Independent (0) 1 Verbal Prompt Gestural Model / >1
Goal Met (≤ 1 VP) [ ]
Sequencing Flight Teacher Guide Sequencing Flight Teacher Guide
25-Minute 1-on-1 Kindergarten Plan • Bird Goes Home
1:1 Intervention Plan
IEP Focus Goal:
“After hearing a story, the student will arrange 3 picture cards showing specific key actions in correct chronological sequence with no more than 1 verbal prompt in 4 out of 5 opportunities.”
25-Minute Lesson Pacing & Direct Scripts
Min 00-04 4 Min
Warm-Up: Body Sequencing & Rhythm Chant
Tap head: “First is the Beginning!” Tap belly: “Next is the Middle!” Tap toes: “Last is the End!” Repeat 3 times with student.
Min 04-09 5 Min
Concept Definition: Anchor Cards & Traffic Light Analogy
Display the 3 Story Steps Anchor Cards:
Beginning: “Green means GO! The story starts. We meet Bird at the park.”Middle: “Yellow means journey! Bird flies over cars, streets, and mountains.”End: “Red means stop and finish! Bird is safe at home in her nest with babies.”
Min 09-15 6 Min
Shared Read-Aloud: Bird Goes Home
Read book with exaggerated pausing at key plot anchors:P. 3: “Look! The bird is starting her trip! That's the Beginning .”P. 5-8: “She is flying over cars and mountains. She is on her way! That's the Middle .”P. 10: “She made it to the nest with her babies! That's the End .”
Min 15-20 5 Min
Guided Practice: Work Mat & Think-Aloud
Lay out the Sequencing Work Mat. Place the 3 story cards in front of the student scrambled. Say: “Find what happened first. Touch the beginning box.” Guide left-to-right scanning.
Min 20-25 5 Min
Independent IEP Probe & Data Logging
Hand student the cut cards or worksheet. Give prompt: “Put the cards in order from first to last.” Record prompt level on tracker. Student delivers verbal retell.
Systematic Prompt Hierarchy (Strict Least-to-Most for IEP Scoring)
Level 0 • Independent
Initial prompt only: “Show me what happened first, next, and last.”
✓ Goal Success
Level 1 • 1 Verbal Prompt
One verbal cue: “Did the bird start by flying over the tree, or was she already at the nest?”
✓ Goal Success (≤ 1 VP)
Level 2 • Gestural Prompt
Teacher points to Box 1 on the mat or taps the start card without verbal answer.
✗ Not Yet Met
Level 3 • Direct Model
Teacher models placement: “Watch me. Card 1 goes here. Now you place next and last.”
✗ Not Yet Met
IEP Objective Mastery Tracker
Goal: Chronological sequence of 3 plot picture cards with ≤ 1 verbal prompt across 4/5 opportunities
Student: __________________
5 Opportunities Tracking Grid Mastery Target: 4 of 5 (80%)
Opp # Date Story / Details Used Prompt Level Needed Correct? Goal Met? (≤1 VP) # 1 ___ / ___ Bird Goes Home Tree • City/Mountains • Nest 0 • 1 VP • Gest • Mod Yes / No # 2 ___ / ___ Bird Goes Home (Trial 2) Picture retell without text preview 0 • 1 VP • Gest • Mod Yes / No # 3 ___ / ___ Story 2: ________________ Generalization probe 0 • 1 VP • Gest • Mod Yes / No # 4 ___ / ___ Story 3: ________________ Generalization probe 0 • 1 VP • Gest • Mod Yes / No # 5 ___ / ___ Cumulative Mastery Check 3-card chronological retell 0 • 1 VP • Gest • Mod Yes / No
Objective Mastery Summary
Total Opportunities Met with ≤ 1 Verbal Prompt:
_____ / 5 (____%) [ ] GOAL MASTERED
Common Error Patterns & Fixes
Reversing Middle and End: Student places nest before flight. Cue: “Could bird be in the nest before she flew home? Which happened last?” Right-to-Left Placement: Student starts from right side. Cue: Tap green Box 1: “We read like a car drives, starting here on the left!” Ignoring Action Details: Student looks only at colors. Cue: “Tell me what bird is doing with her wings here.”
Tier 2 Scaffolds & Extensions
Tactile Sensory: Place Velcro dots on mat and cards so the student gets tactile feedback when snapping into Box 1, 2, and 3.Verbal Carrier Phrase: Teach student to touch each card and say: “First she flew, next she traveled, last she cuddled her babies.” High-Interest Motivation: Use a toy plastic bird or finger puppet to fly from Card 1 → Card 2 → Card 3 to reinforce chronological flow.
Observation Notes: ____________________________________________________________________ Lenny Education Materials
