Instruction builder
Put instructions in a sensible order, ready for someone to follow.
For parents and teachers
About this game
Ordering prepared instructions helps children notice that a reader needs a clear sequence. Think about which action depends on another action being finished first. This game checks the order of supplied steps; composing instructions also involves choosing words and deciding what another person needs to know. Try writing a new set about a familiar classroom task.
Common Core connection: W.1.3. This is focused practice for part of the standard.
Suggested for ages 6–7. Grade 1 is a starting point, not a rule for every class.
How to play
Read the four steps. Move them into the order needed to complete the task, then check. Play four instruction sets. Afterwards, tell someone the instructions in your own words.
Step by step
- Read. Read the card, sentence or story clue all the way through.
- Choose. Use the meaning, not a guess from the first word.
- Talk. After the round, explain one choice out loud.
Worked examples
Use the first item as a model. Read it aloud, name the clue that decides the answer, then choose. The same steps work for the next item.
Common mistakes
Choosing too quickly. Slow down and use the whole sentence or clue. A familiar word can still be the wrong choice.
At home
Play one round together, then let the learner try the next round. Ask which words decided the answer.
In class
Use one round as a warm-up. Invite a learner to explain a choice before the next card.
Printable
This on-screen game does not include a worksheet. Practice the same idea with paper and a pencil, using an example from the guide.
Questions
Does this cover a whole standard?
No. It practices one part of the connected standard.