Title – First, Next, Then, Last

By – Jacqueline Eich

Primary Subject – Language Arts

Grade Level – 1-2

Mini-Lesson

Teaching Point: The importance of writing in sequential (first, next, then and last) order.

The Review: Review what has been discussed/practiced about writing in order of events and the importance of when beginning to write stories to use “first, next, then and last”. Review books that have been read in teacher read-alouds and stories that the class has been writing using this order. If needed, bring out chart paper that has stories that use first, next, then and last that the class has already done.

Teaching Demonstration: Read

Caribbean Dream

by Rachel Isadora and discuss throughout the book the order in which the author has placed ideas (e.g. On the first page its morning and the children awaken – on the last page it becomes dark and the children begin to dream.).

Active Engagement: There will be four pieces of construction paper in various colors connected to one another vertically labeled “first, next, then and last”. This should be taped to the board. On the ledge of the board should be four half pieces of construction paper with excerpts of the story written on them but placed out of order. Each half piece should have double sided tape on the back. Ask the students to raise their hands if they know which piece belongs in the “first” column. Repeat with “next, then and last”.

Link: Explain that they will now practice writing in sequential order in their writing journals. Instruct them to write six sentences. The first sentence will introduce the story they have just read, the next four will be “first, next, then and last”. They may use the sentences displayed on the board, or other parts in the story, but they must be in order. The last sentence will be their opinion of the story (I liked this story because… or I did not like this story because…).

Share: Allow students to share their stories with the class. Point out the order of the story and discuss how well the story flows when it is written in order.

E-Mail

Jacqueline Eich

!