The Mitten Story Sequence

The Mitten story sequence activities provide preschoolers with a hands-on story sequencing activity they can use immediately after reading the book.

This activity is designed for kids who understand the story but need help organizing the events. Instead of worksheets or long explanations, children retell the story using pictures, discs, and a simple sequencing mat.

It’s an easy way to practice first, next, and last without turning storytime into a lesson.

In Jan Brett’s The Mitten, Nicki wants his Baba to make him a pair of white mittens. As he goes out to play in the snow, he drops one. A series of animals discover the mitten and snuggle in to stay warm.

Your preschoolers will love the story, and Jan Brett’s illustrations add an additional level of engagement throughout the entire book. 

The Mitten Story Sequence Activities

Read The Mitten with your preschoolers. Be sure to share the pictures as you read so they can follow along.

Notice the mitten illustrations in the sidebar on each page. On the left, kids can follow Nicki on his adventure. On the right, kids can see what animal is coming up next.

 Afterward, show them the character cards. There is a card for each animal as well as the mitten, Nicki, and Baba. See if they can put the cards in order as each item/person/animal is introduced in the story.

Now, show your students the story discs and the sequencing mat. There are a few versions of each of these so that you can use the one(s) appropriate for your students. 

One sequencing mat has numbered circles while the other is blank. There are four versions of story discs. One has just images while another has labels. Another page of discs has ordinal numbers and still another has ordinal number words. 

Mix and match these with your students need. Allow them to sequence the story as you read the book again. 

This activity is great in a center. Just print the discs and mats on cardstock and laminate for durability. Use velcro dots on the mat and on the back of each disc. Have students stick the discs to the mat in the proper order. 

I’ve also included ordinal number and ordinal number word labels. These work great with the character cards. Have your kids put the cards in order and then match the labels to the correct cards. 

Extend the Learning

If you want to extend this activity, these simple add-ons work well with The Mitten.

• Do your kids love Jan Brett books? If so, they’re going to love this The Mitten story printable and hands-on activity! Perfect for winter homeschool lessons!
• Felt animal sets are great for hands-on retelling and sequencing without paper.
• These Jan Brett board books are a sturdy option for younger siblings or independent story time.

Grab the story sequencing activity here.

This story sequencing pack is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary readers.

Add it to your literacy centers for retelling practice. Or, add it to your math centers when you’re working on ordinal numbers and sequencing.