Group Size Time

Small Group 15–20 minutes

Computational Thinking Learning Goal

This activity introduces the concept of sequencing:

1. Think About It. Think about the steps you need to do.

2. Step It Out. Do the steps in order.

Math Concepts

• Understanding and using ordinals

• Creating a Sequence

Materials

• Sequencing Poster

• Set of Story Pictures (one set per group)

• Monkey puppets (for the extension activity)

• Popsicle sticks

Preparation

• Cut out the four Monkey puppets and attach each one to a popsicle stick using tape.

• Tape the Sequencing Poster to the wall

Make a Monkey Story

Explore Sequencing

In this activity, children put three pictures in

order to make a story. They need to think about what’s happening in each picture, and

then step it out!

Introduce the Activity (5 minutes)

1. Place the Story Pictures on the table in a mixed-up order and show them to the children. Say:

• The Monkeys want to tell a story about making lemonade, but the pictures are out of order. Can you help them?

• Each picture shows something that happens in the story.

SUGAR

2. Point to the Sequencing Poster and say:

• When you put the pictures in order, you’re going to practice sequencing. Say it with me: SEQUENCING!

Think About It! (5 minutes)

1. Point to the first step on the Sequencing Poster and say:

• The first step of sequencing is think about it!

• Let’s say it together: Think about it! Think about it!

2. Help children think through the steps before they put the story pictures in order. Point to the story pictures and say:

• Let’s think about the pictures. What do you notice about what is happening in each picture? (Let children share their thoughts. If needed, help them identify things that change in the pictures, like noticing the characters’ expressions or whether there are lemons or lemonade.)

• Let’s think about the order. What should happen first? Why do you think so?

• What should happen second? How do you know?

• Can you put the pictures in any order? Why not?

Step It Out! (5 minutes)

1. Point to the second step on the Sequencing Poster and say:

• The second step in sequencing is step it out!.

• Let’s say it together: Step it out! Step it out!

• Now, use step it out to put the pictures in order.

Have children put the pictures in order, from left to right, to make their Monkey Story.

2. Then reflect on the activity by having one or more children point to each picture and tell the story. Ask:

• How did you decide which picture came first, second, third?

TIP: Use Math Skills to Look for CluesEncourage children to use their math skills to help determine the order of the pictures. Ask:

• How many lemons are on the table in this picture? How many are in this one? What happened to the other lemons?

• Describe how the pitcher looks in this picture. Describe how it looks in this one. What made it change?

SEQUENCING1. Think About It!

2. Step It Out!

SEQUENCING1. Think About It!

2. Step It Out!

Wrap It Up (2 minutes)

End the activity by saying:

• Today we practiced sequencing. The first step of sequencing is think about it. The second step of sequencing is step it out.

• Say it with me: Think about it! Thinks about it! Step it out! Step it out!

Extend the PlayContinue to practice sequencing by having the children use the Monkey Puppets to act out the story in their own words.

Funding provided by the National Science Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1640135. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.© 2019 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved.

Public media producers from WGBH and Kentucky Educational Television (KET), and researchers from the Education Development Center (EDC), collaborated on the project Integrating Computational Thinking into Mathematics Instruction in Rural and Urban Preschools.

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Monkey Puppets