Have a kindergartner-friendly, written definition of the word "procedure" ready to distribute to students on the first day of school. Use words that children understand and use a picture to illustrate the word. For example, define procedure by saying, "A procedure is the way we do things." Include on the sheet a picture of ants or penguins marching in a straight line. When handing this out on the first day of school, tell the children the animals are following procedure by walking in a straight line and in an orderly fashion.
Hand out journals to all students after giving them the definition of the word "procedure." Have each child use crayons to draw a picture in their journal which shows something illustrating a procedure. If kids have a hard time coming up with ideas, give them help by suggesting they draw a picture of how everyone in a class sits down at the same time or how you buckle your seat belt before riding in a car.
Give students the rules of your classroom and hand out a list noting how each day is divided. Make sure to include times and days if you follow a rotational schedule. For example, children will learn the procedures of your classroom by knowing that each morning, after the morning bell, all children are to gather on a rug for daily attendance and lunch counts. Make sure that you follow the same routine every day, further helping children to grasp the concept of procedures. Explain to children that the class rules and routines all have procedures which need to be followed. Explain and list the procedures for daily occurrences such as recess, quiet time, indoor play, bathroom usage and lunch.
Use the word "procedure" when having students perform tasks that occur on a regular basis. For example, before recess, when you tell the kids to line up, make sure to say, "You all know the procedure for going out to recess: we all line up and walk in an orderly fashion."
Have children talk to you, one on one, to explain to you in their own words what the word "procedure" means. Have each child give you examples of procedures they follow at school and at home.