How to Use Story Sequencing Cards: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sequencing cards show the key moments of a short story. Putting them back in order is a simple way to talk about what happened, why it happened and what came next. This guide uses the free Lost Ball activity as an example, but the same steps work with every StoryTalkKit pack.

What you need

• The printed story and its picture cards, in A4 or US Letter. Download Lost Ball for free.
• Scissors for the adult. Card stock makes the cards easier to handle.
• A table or floor space where the cards can be laid out in a row.
• About 10 minutes. You can always stop early and come back another day.

1. Get ready

Print one copy at 100% (Actual size) and cut along the card borders. Keep the full story nearby for checking. Choose a calm, comfortable spot. There is no need to ask for eye contact or a spoken answer.

2. Share the whole story first

Look through all the pictures together before mixing up any cards. Offer a short model such as "The ball rolled away." Give time to notice details. A child may point, gesture, use words or ask you to say it.

3. Start with a manageable choice

Lay out the first and last pictures, then offer one or two pictures for the middle. For Lost Ball, the three-card version uses playing, the ball under the bench and holding the ball again. The four-card version adds looking underneath.

If a child is new to sequencing, ask "Which one comes first?" and let them choose between two cards.

4. Talk about the connections

Ask about cause and effect: "What happened to the ball?" or "Why did the child look under the bench?" Model time words: first, next, then, at the end. Treat the story order as a reference, not a test. If the child chooses a different order and can explain it, explore what would make it fit.

5. Retell it another way

Use the blank retelling spaces to draw, place a card or have an adult write a chosen phrase. There is no need to repeat a sentence exactly. Retell together, then swap roles so the child "reads" the cards to you.

6. End comfortably

Stop when interest fades or frustration appears. Put the cards in an envelope so they are ready for next time.

Adapting by story length

• 4-scene stories (Lost Ball, Picnic Prep, The Wet Painting) have a clear beginning, problem and ending. A good place to start.
• 6-scene stories add a step such as testing an idea or asking for help.
• 8-scene stories (Rain Changes the Plan, The Windy Delivery) include a change of plan and several connected events.

With any length, you can start with a selection of cards and add the rest later.

Tips for speech therapists and teachers

• Use the Words to explore and conversation prompts on the story pages to plan a session.
• Pair the cards with the short-text story to model sentence structure, then fade to the wordless version for independent retelling.
• Send pages marked Home practice to families so the same story continues at home. See the usage license.

Common questions

What if the child puts the cards in a different order? Ask them to tell you the story in their order. Many alternative orders make sense; talk about what would need to change.

What if they don't want to talk? Pointing to a card or handing it to you is a full answer. Keep modeling the words yourself.

How often should we use the same story? Repeating a familiar story is useful. Once it feels easy, try a longer story or a new one.

These materials support shared learning. They do not replace an individual plan from a qualified professional.

Get the free Lost Ball activity · Browse sequencing story packs · Wordless stories