Take photos of the various stages of a basic task, and ask students to arrange the images in the correct order. For the various stages of assembling a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich, start with an image of a loaf of bread, and add images of all stages, such as spreading the peanut butter on the bread and spooning the jelly out of the jar. Then ask students to write a sentence describing each photo.
This sorting activity begins with a series of sentences explaining a particular process -- step by step -- and making several copies of the instructions. Cut each copy into strips, and place each set into a sandwich bag. Give a bag to a group, and have the group members place the sentences in the correct order.
Have your students write rough drafts of the same procedure, such as tying a pair of shoes or opening a locker. Have a student volunteer act as the model, and she will follow the instructions she hears to the letter. The rest of the class will enjoy watching her try to ignore what she already knows instead of following the directions verbatim, particularly when the writer leaves out a crucial step, such as turning the locker dial past the second number once before coming back to it again.
This project works well with building blocks. Split your class into groups of two or three students, and give each group a sandwich bag with blocks. Ask them to build something (a recognizable object) and to write down step-by-step instructions for building that object. Have them take the object apart and assemble it again, using their own instructions. Then have them swap bags with students from other classes, who will try to assemble the objects without the help of the designers in the room.