Six-Frame Stories: Narrate the Sequence
Each card is a six-event sequence to be narrated as a connected story rather than read back as a list, so temporal and causal connectives are obligatory.
Session summary (SOAP)
Stays on this screen. Nothing is saved or sent.
Mark a card Correct, Correct with cue or Incorrect and the summary writes itself here.
How to run it
Read the card aloud or have the student read it, then put it face down and ask for the story. Push for connecting words between events: because, so, but, after that, when, at last. Start with the snowman and the lunch cards, which have clear problems and solutions, before the letter card, where the problem is just waiting. Fifteen minutes allows three or four stories.
Cueing ladder
Start at the top. Add support one step at a time.
- IndependentPresent the item and wait 5 seconds of quiet before helping.Log as correct
- Question promptAsk a story-grammar question: who, where, what was the problem, what happened next?Log as cued
- Two choicesOffer two possible next parts of the story and let the student pick and say it.Log as cued
- ModelTell that part yourself; the student tells it back in their own words.Log as cued
Adjust it
Use fewer parts, and keep a first-next-last visual on the table.
Ask for the retell without the pictures, with a feeling or a reason added to each part.
Matching IEP goal
Given a picture or story prompt, Student will put events in order and retell them using first, next, then and last in 4 of 5 opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions, given no more than one question prompt.
Send it home through the parent portal →About this activity
Ten six-event sequences to be told as connected stories: a boy fills a watering can, trips, spills it, and refills it; a dog digs under a fence, gets out, and a neighbor reads the tag and phones the owner; a girl practices free throws, misses every one, a coach shows her one change, and she scores. Each card lists the events, but the student is asked to narrate them as a story, not read them back as a list.
What to listen for
Listen for connectives beyond and then, especially causal ones. A student who says the can spilled because he tripped is linking events; one who says he tripped and then the can spilled is listing them. Notice whether all six events come out in order, and whether the student adds a feeling or a reason. The bike card has a problem, a setback and a fix, which is a good test.
Carrying it home
After reading a book or watching a short clip, ask the child to tell you what happened in six steps. Then ask them to tell it again using because or so. Taking turns with a story of your own day works well too.
What's in this activity
- Six frames: a boy fills a watering can; walks to the garden; trips; the can spills; he refills it; the plant gets watered. Narrate it as a story, not a list.
- Six frames: a girl packs a lunch; leaves it on the counter; gets to school; opens an empty bag; a friend shares; they eat together.
- Six frames: a dog digs under a fence; gets out; wanders the street; a neighbor reads the tag; phones the owner; the dog comes home.
- Six frames: two kids build a snowman; the head falls off; they argue; one fetches a scarf to hold it on; it works; they take a photo.
- Six frames: a boy saves coins in a jar; counts them; goes to the store; the price is higher than he has; he waits a week; he buys it.
- Six frames: a class plants seeds; nothing happens; they water them; still nothing; they move the pot to the window; sprouts appear.
- Six frames: a girl practices free throws; misses every one; a coach shows her one change; she practices again; the game comes; she scores.
- Six frames: a family packs a car; drives; gets a flat tire; changes it in the rain; arrives late; the campsite is worth it.
- Six frames: a boy borrows a bike; the chain comes off; he pushes it home; watches a video; fixes it; returns it cleaned.
- Six frames: a girl writes a letter; posts it; waits; checks the mailbox each day; nothing comes; a reply arrives at last.
Questions
- What grades is this for?
- First through sixth grade, for sequencing, story retell and narrative language.
- Do I need an account?
- No. The board plays free in the browser with no login. An account adds session data, goal scoring and assignment to a student.
- What if the student just lists the events?
- Model one story yourself with the connecting words stressed, then have them try the same card again. A written list of connectives on the table also helps.
Use this board with your caseload
With a free account, every correct, cued and incorrect mark is saved to the student and scored against their IEP goal, with the data written up for you. Assign it as home practice through the parent portal.
Track progress freeFree for SLPs. No card, no trial clock.