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Slides Scramble: Giving Instructions

Details

Author:
Barry Bakin, LAUSD
Tech Product/Equipment:
Computer and projector

Activity Description

Making Coffee
Source: Chatgpt by Chatgpt (License: CC0/Public Domain)
 

This activity will teach students how to give instructions.

Preparation

  1. Think of a simple process that can be described in 5 to 10 steps. (Or you can start by using this PowerPoint file
  2. Use a phone to take clear close up photos of all of the distinct steps of a simple process.
  3. Upload images to your computer.
  4. Create a simple slideshow using PowerPoint, Google Slides, or other presentation software. Each step has its own slide. Enlarge the photos to fill up the entire slide
  5. Scramble the slides and save the slide show on each student computer.

How-To

  1. Demonstrate the following procedures:
    • Opening the scrambled presentation
    • Saving the presentation with a new name
    • Moving slides into the correct order
    • Recording a narration
    • Fixing narration on an individual slide.
    • Saving the finished project
  2. Check student work for errors, pronunciation, etc.
  3. Play completed presentations for the whole class.

Teacher Tips

  • Make sure each photo clearly shows only one step of the process.
  • This is a good project for pair work.

More Ways

Once students have completed the project, they can create a new presentation demonstrating the steps of a process of their choice. They take the photos and create the steps themselves.

Program Areas

  • ESL: English as a Second Language

Levels

  • Beginning Low
  • Beginning High
  • Intermediate Low
  • Intermediate High
  • Advanced

Lesson Plan

Warm-up
Engagement Enhancement

What are four  things you did this morning? Brainstorm and teach the words First, Next , Then , Finally

Quick activity: Show 3 scrambled pictures of daily activities (wake up, eat breakfast, brush teeth) - students put in order

Indicate Beginning, Middle, End

Introduction
Engagement

Today we are going to work on putting things in order or sequencing.

Presentation
Engagement Enhancement

1. Focus question: "How do we show the order of things when we speak?"

  • Show the visual timeline.
  • Beginning: First, Initially, To start
  • Middle: Next, Then, After that, Following this
  • End: Finally, Last, In the end

2. Show scrambled coffee slides
Ask: "What's wrong with this order? How can we fix it?"

You can also have students practice this activity with no pictures on this website.

3. What must happen first?"
"What can't happen until something else is done?"
"What comes at the very end?"
Model thinking process with coffee example

Demonstrate how transition words create flow
Compare: "Get filter. Add coffee. Turn on machine." (choppy)
Versus: "First, get the filter. Next, add coffee grounds. Then, turn on the machine." (smooth)

Practice
Engagement Enhancement Extension

Divide students into pairs and have them list out a sequence that they do every day. It could be making tea, morning routine, making a sandwich etc. Have them create the list of steps and use transition words. 

Evaluation
Engagement Enhancement Extension

If possible, have pairs develop a google slide or powerpoint demonstrating the process. If that is not possible technologally, have the pairs present their process to the whole class.

Application
Engagement Enhancement Extension

Have students complete another sequenced activity at home and have them take pictures to illustrate it. They can bring in the pictures the next day to share their sequence with the class.

Documents

Tags

speaking, group work, Impress, instructions, making coffee, narrations, ordinal numbers, pair work, Power Point, Powerpoint, PPT, process, project based learning, project-based learning, sequence, sequential steps, slide shows, slides scramble, steps, technology skills, total physical response, TPR, transition words, transitional phrases, transitional words, chronology, collaborate, collaboration, giving instructions

Tools

google slides, powerpoint, digital photos

Creative Commons License

CC BY
CC BY: This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use.

AI Reference

Used Claude to complete this lesson plan
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OTAN activities are funded by contract CN240137 from the Adult Education Office, in the Career & College Transition Division, California Department of Education, with funds provided through Federal P.L., 105-220, Section 223. However, OTAN content does not necessarily reflect the position of that department or the U.S. Department of Education.