Activities

1. Make a list of transition words and phrases an author uses to signal a change in setting or time frame.
   
   
2. After listening to a narrative song and reading the lyrics, identify the sequence of events within the lyrics and time sequence transition words and phrases used.

3. Given sentence strips with a story written on them, without transition words, put the story in an order that makes sense.  Rewrite the story with transition words.
   
   
4. Identify the transition words and phrases in a narrative picture book.  Identify if the transition words convey the sequence of events or signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another. 

5. Write a narrative poem that has a sequence of events.  Use transition words and phrases that help clarify the sequence of events and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
   
   
6. Create a circular story on a storyboard using a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and to signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Student makes a list of transition words and phrases an author uses to signal a change in setting or time frame. Student’s list is accurate and contains multiple examples.  Student’s list contains:

• time sequence transition words that signal a change in setting or time frame such as, first, in the beginning, later, finally, then, next, afterward, immediately, soon, gradually, suddenly, previously, before, eventually, etc.  For example, “First, we went to the playground, then we went home.” 
• spatial arrangement transition words that signal a change in setting such as, near, nearly, far, beside, in front of, next to, above, below, around, surrounding, on one side, inside, outside, across, opposite to, far off, behind, alongside, there, etc.  For example, “We were sitting in the peaceful park when suddenly above us angry thunder clapped.”
• cause and effect transition words that may indicate a change in the setting or time frame.  These words include, if, because, since, on account of, as a result of, as a result, hence, therefore, then, subsequently, consequently, thus, etc.  For example, “As a result of the fire, we had to leave the cottage and move in with my grandmother.”

2. After listening to a narrative song and reading the lyrics, student identifies the sequence of events within the lyrics and time sequence transition words used.  Student closely listens to the song and closely reads the lyrics.  Student correctly identifies the sequence of events in the lyrics.  Student correctly identifies time sequence transition words and phrases used in the lyrics.  Student identifies words such as, first, in the beginning, later, finally, then, next, afterward, immediately, soon, gradually, suddenly, previously, before, eventually, etc.   

3. Given sentence strips with a story written on them, without transition words, student puts the story in an order that makes sense.  Student rewrites the story with transition words.  Student appropriately uses transition words and phrases that help clarify the sequence of events.  Student understands stories make more sense and are easier to remember when they are in a sequential order.  Student uses time sequence transition words such as, first, in the beginning, later, finally, then, next, afterward, immediately, soon, gradually, suddenly, previously, before, eventually, etc. 
   
   
4. Student identifies the transition words and phrases in a narrative picture book.  Student identifies if the transition words convey the sequence of events or signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.  Student closely reads the text.  Student correctly identifies the sequence of events in the text as well as the setting and time frame.  Student correctly identifies:   

• time sequence transition words and phrases that signal a change in setting or time frame or convey the sequence of the story such as, first, in the beginning, later, finally, then, next, afterward, immediately, soon, gradually, suddenly, previously, before, eventually, etc. 
• cause and effect transition words and phrases that may indicate a change in the setting or time frame or convey the sequence of the story.  These words include, if, because, since, on account of, as a result of, as a result, hence, therefore, then, subsequently, consequently, thus, etc.
• spatial arrangement transition words and phrases that signal a change in setting such as, near, nearly, far, beside, in front of, next to, above, below, around, surrounding, on one side, inside, outside, across, opposite to, far off, behind, alongside, there, etc. 

5. Student writes a narrative poem that has a sequence of events.  Student uses transition words and phrases that help clarify the sequence of events and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.  Poem is written in a poetry format.  Poem makes sense.  Events are in a logical order.  Student understands a narrative poem tells a story and stories are better remembered when events are in a logical order.  Student understands that transition words help the narrative flow and help the reader recognize when the setting and events are changing.  Student uses some of the transition words and phrases below to show sequence of events or changes in the time frame or setting: 

6. Student creates a circular story on a storyboard using a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and to signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.  Student understands that a circular story ends with what happened in the beginning.  Student may study samples of circular stories before beginning such as The Mitten by Jan Brett or If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, by Laura Numeroff.  Student’s story is original, logical and makes sense.  Student appropriately uses transition words that assist in conveying the sequence of events and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.  Student uses:  

• time sequence transition words and phrases that signal a change in setting or time frame or convey the sequence of the story such as, at first, first, in the beginning, later, finally, then, next, afterward, immediately, soon, gradually, suddenly, previously, before, eventually, etc. 
• cause and effect transition words and phrases that may indicate a change in the setting or time frame or convey the sequence of the story.  These words include, if, because, since, on account of, as a result of, as a result, hence, therefore, then, subsequently, consequently, thus, etc.
• spatial arrangement transition words and phrases that signal a change in setting such as, near, nearly, far, beside, in front of, next to, above, below, around, surrounding, on one side, inside, outside, across, opposite to, far off, behind, alongside, there, etc.