How to make a paper plate cat face

The ability to read and follow the steps in a procedure is a very important skill for young children to learn.

Being able to explain the steps of a procedure in logical sequence to another is equally important.

At first glance, the activity, involving students in making a cat face from a paper plate, may appear to be simply a fun activity to provide a break from routine.

However the benefits of including procedural texts in your classroom go way beyond that. So much of what we do on a daily basis requires us to follow procedures e.g. cooking, putting together a chair, making a toy model. Some instructions are not always easy to follow. It is important that students be able to follow instructions presented in both text and pictures. Being able to read and follow instructions to achieve something intended is empowering.

Procedures texts can be easily incorporated into a reading program as an independent or group reading activity.

This particular reading task is based upon an activity that involves students in making a cat face from a paper plate. It includes reading, sequencing and writing activities.

The package is comprised of 14 different documents including 2 PowerPoint shows, 2 MP4 videos and suggestions for use.

The activities are written at two reading levels so they can be used by different groups in the class or school, according to student ability.

Documents 1 and 2:

• Charts of instructions

Documents 3 and 4:

• Videos of instructions

Documents 5 and 6:

• Recounts of steps taken

Documents 7 and 8:

• Recounts of steps taken presented like a book in a PowerPoint slideshow

Documents 9, 10, 11 and 12:

• Sequencing activities

Document 13:

• Writing activity

Document 14:

• Suggestions for use

I hope you find them to be useful tools in your literacy classroom.

Please let me know what you think of them.

You can visit my blog www.NorahColvin.com for more thoughts about education and learning.

Happy teaching and learning!

Norah