Provide students with paper that has a list of steps to complete a task. The steps should not be in logical order. Tell students to put a number next to each step to show the necessary order to perform the activity. Consider letting small groups of children figure out the order of tasks that have 10 or more steps. This activity will promote cooperation, encourage children to share their thought process and will draw information from students with different background knowledge.
This can be an excellent activity for weaker readers or third-grade non-native English speaking (ESL) students. Give students a series of cards that depict a task or story. Invite the students to place the pictures in the correct order so the story or task is depicted from start to finish.
Discuss the importance of determining the steps needed to accomplish a goal. Inform third-graders that they will be given steps to a particular task, but that one or two steps may be missing. Divide students in pairs and let them discuss which steps are missing and whether they can complete the task without those steps. Ask students to write the missing steps and indicate where they belong.
Sequencing worksheets can contain paragraphs that may contain sentences that in the wrong order. Students can rewrite the paragraphs so they make better sense and are logical. Review transitions with the children including "first," "second" and "next," since these words can make it easier for students to organize the paragraph.