Retelling the story in correct sequence for Primary 1

Class: Primary One
Term: Third Term
Week: 4
Age: 6 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Studies
Curriculum Theme: Listening and Speaking
Focal competence: Telling and retelling stories
Key competencies/values: Collaboration; Respect; Communication; Critical Thinking; Creativity and Innovation; ICT and Digital Competencies
Skills:

• Storytelling skills

Previous Lesson: Identifying Sequence and Key Details in a Short Story
Topic: Retelling Stories
Subject Matter: Retelling the story in correct sequence

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Identify the main characters, beginning, middle, and end of a simple story.

Affective Domain

• Participate confidently in retelling a story in pairs.

Psychomotor Domain

• Retell the main events of a suitable short story in simple English and in the correct order.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Macmillan Primary English for Primary 1
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• A selected short story (e.g., “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” simplified, or “The Tortoise and the Birds”)
• Picture cards illustrating key events of the story
• Syllables sorting cards
• Approved publisherneutral text
• Letter, word and picture cards
• Exercise books and pencils

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils develop crucial listening comprehension and oral communication skills. Learning to retell stories in sequence strengthens memory, logical thinking, and the ability to convey information clearly. These skills are fundamental for academic success and effective communication in everyday life.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can listen to simple stories and identify some familiar objects and actions in pictures.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Retelling Stories

What is Retelling a Story?

Retelling a story means to tell it again in your own words. It is important to tell the events in the same order they happened.

Parts of a Story to Remember

When you retell a story, remember these parts:

1. Main Characters: Who are the important people or animals in the story?
2. Beginning: How did the story start? What happened first?
3. Middle: What happened next? What were the main problems or events?
4. Ending: How did the story finish? What happened last?

How to Retell a Story in Correct Sequence

To retell a story correctly, follow these steps:

1. Listen carefully to the story.
2. Remember the main characters.
3. Start by telling what happened at the beginning.
4. Then, tell the events in the middle, one after the other.
5. Finally, tell how the story ended.
6. Use simple, complete sentences.
7. Do not change the order of the events.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Explanation, Pair Work, Role-play

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Recalling

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them if they remember any story they heard recently. The teacher then tells a very short, familiar story (e.g., about a cat chasing a mouse) and asks a simple question about it.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greeting and try to recall stories. They listen to the teacher’s story and answer the question.

Learning Point: Story listening recall

Step 2: Introduce the Story

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Listening

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher tells a new, simple short story clearly and expressively, using picture cards to illustrate key events. The teacher ensures pupils listen attentively.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen carefully to the story and observe the picture cards.

Learning Point: Story plot understanding

Step 3: Identify Main Characters

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils, “Who are the people or animals in this story?” and guides them to name the main characters.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify and name the main characters in the story.

Learning Point: Main story characters

Step 4: Identify the Beginning of the Story

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guiding/Sequencing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks, “How did the story start? What happened first?” and helps pupils recall the opening event, showing the corresponding picture card.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils recall and state the beginning of the story.

Learning Point: Story’s beginning

Step 5: Identify Middle Events in Correct Order

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Ordering

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks, “What happened next in the story?” and guides pupils to recall the middle events one by one, ensuring they are in the correct order, using picture cards.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils recall and state the middle events of the story in the correct sequence.

Learning Point: Middle events sequence

Step 6: Identify the Ending of the Story

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarising/Completion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks, “How did the story end? What happened last?” and helps pupils recall the concluding event, showing the final picture card.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils recall and state the ending of the story.

Learning Point: Story’s ending

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Who were the main characters in the story we heard today?
2. What happened at the beginning of the story?
3. Tell one thing that happened in the middle of the story.
4. How did the story end?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Story retelling assessment

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to copy the essential Board Summary notes about the parts of a story and how to retell it into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Key story elements

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and reminds them that retelling stories in the correct order helps them understand and share stories better. The teacher encourages them to practice retelling stories at home.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and acknowledge the teacher’s remarks.

Learning Point: Importance of sequence

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Listen to a short story from your parents or guardians at home. Then, try to retell the story to them in your own words, remembering to tell it in the correct order.

1. Ask your parent/guardian to tell you a short story.
2. Listen carefully.
3. Tell the story back to them, starting from the beginning, then the middle, and finally the end.
4. Ask your parent/guardian to help you if you forget a part.

Lesson Keywords

• Retell – to tell a story again
• Sequence – the order in which things happen
• Story – a tale or narrative
• Characters – the people or animals in a story
• Beginning – the start of something
• Middle – the part between the beginning and the end
• End – the finish of something

Differentiation

For pupils who struggle, the teacher will provide more visual cues (picture cards) and simplify the story further, allowing them to retell only two or three main events. For faster learners, the teacher will encourage them to use more descriptive words or retell a slightly longer story, challenging them to include more details from the middle of the story.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, pupils can watch videos on retelling stories in sequence:

• YouTube Search: retelling stories for kids primary 1 english

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, select a simple, engaging short story suitable for Primary 1 pupils and prepare corresponding picture cards for each main event. During the lesson, model retelling clearly and encourage active listening. Guide pupils through identifying the main characters, beginning, middle, and end of the story, emphasizing the importance of correct sequence. Allow ample time for pupils to practice retelling in pairs or through short role-plays, providing support and constructive feedback. Observe common errors such as mixing up the order of events and gently correct them. Pupils should copy the Board Summary notes after the evaluation stage. Ensure all pupils, including those needing extra support, have an opportunity to participate and demonstrate their understanding of retelling a story in the correct sequence.