Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Little Red Hen Story Order: Free Printable Worksheet for Ages 2 to 4
- ForAges 2 to 4
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Little Red Hen Story Order is a free printable English worksheet for Ages 2 to 4, in Early Years. Children listen to a well known story and say what happens first, next and last. It needs only a pencil and a grown up to read the lines aloud. Page 2 gives the adult notes, help ideas, a stretch question and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet short lines from the traditional story of the Little Red Hen. Each line tells one thing the hen does. An adult reads the lines aloud, and children use what they remember from the story to decide what happens first, what comes next and what comes last. It is a talking activity as much as a paper one, so young children can answer aloud and point. Page 1 is for the child.
- She bakes the bread.
- The hen finds some wheat.
- She grinds it into flour.
- The wheat grows tall and she cuts it.
- She plants the seeds.
Ways to build the story together
Tell it before you read it
Tell the story in your own words first, using your voice and your hands. Children need to know the whole story before they can put its parts in order.
Use a story voice
Give the hen a clear voice and move as you speak. Children remember a story better when they hear it, see it and join in.
Pause and ask
Stop at a quiet moment and ask, "What do you think happens next?" Wait. Give your child time to think before you say anything.
Use the words first, next and last
Say these words often as you work through the lines. Young children pick up order words by hearing them again and again in a real story.
Why use a familiar story for ordering?
The Little Red Hen is a traditional folk tale that many children in England meet at nursery, in a book or at story time. Because it has a clear pattern and repeating phrases, young children can often join in. A story they already know is easier to think about, so they can focus on the order and not on working out what is happening.
Putting events in order is an early step towards retelling a story. When children say what happens first, next and last, they practise listening, remembering and speaking in a clear sequence. This is part of Communication and Language in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Short, playful practice with a story they enjoy suits children aged 2 to 4 very well.
Skills and curriculum link
- Listening
- Story order
- Speaking
- Remembering
- First, next and last
Ideas for the adult helper
- Keep it playfulTreat the sheet as a story game, not a test. If your child loses interest, stop and come back another day.
- Let your child leadAsk your child to point to the line they think comes next, and talk about why. Accept their ideas before you check the notes.
- Use actionsChildren often remember order through movement. Act out a line, then ask your child to act out the next one.
- Praise thinkingSay what you noticed, such as "You remembered that part of the story." Praise effort as well as correct answers.
Key words
- StoryA set of events told in order, with characters and a beginning and an end.
- OrderWhere something comes in a list or a story, such as one thing before another.
- FirstThe one that comes before everything else.
- NextThe one that comes straight after.
- LastThe one that comes at the very end.
- RetellTell a story again in your own words.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for the adult, with the notes and answers.
- Tell the story first, in your own words. Then read each line on the sheet aloud.
- Let your child say what comes next. Work through the sheet together the first time and talk about each choice.
- Check against the answers on page 2. Ask your child to say why they chose that order.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Act out each step with toy animals. Tell the story slowly and let your child move the toys as each part happens. Then read the sheet lines one at a time and ask which part the toys just showed. Stop when your child has had enough.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to retell the whole story in their own words without looking at the sheet. Then ask the question from page 2: why did the hen eat the bread herself? Listen to their ideas and ask them to explain.
Make it a game
Your child plays the hen and an adult plays the other farmyard animals. Act out the story together, one part at a time. Before each part, ask your child to say what happens next, then act it out.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child starts with their favourite part of the story, not the beginning.
Try thisGo back to the start and tell the story again. Use the words first, next and last as you go, so the beginning is clear.
Watch forA child points to lines at random.
Try thisSlow down and act out each line with toys or actions. Ask, "What did the hen do before that?" and let them think.
Watch forA child wants to talk about the story and not do the sheet.
Try thisEnjoy the talk. It is good practice for speaking. Gently bring them back by reading the next line aloud.
Talk about it
- What is your favourite part of the story, and why?
- What does the hen do first?
- How do you think the hen feels as the story goes on?
- What would you do if you were the hen?
- Can you tell me the story again in your own words?
- What do you think happens at the very end?
Take it off the page
Toy animal theatre
Use toy animals or soft toys to act out the story. Say a line each time a character moves. Children enjoy being the storyteller.
Story actions
Make up an action for each part of the story. Do the actions in order while an adult tells the tale, then swap roles.
Draw a story strip
Fold a sheet of paper into sections. Draw a part of the story in each one and talk about which comes first, next and last.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Keep sessions short and stop while it is still fun. Tell the story first, then read the lines aloud and listen to their ideas.
Teachers
Use it after story time, as a table activity in Early Years or as a small group task with an adult. It supports Communication and Language through listening and speaking. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
Home educators
Pair it with a picture book of the story, some toy animals and a walk to look at plants outdoors. Short, playful sessions suit this age. You can print it again for younger or older brothers and sisters.
Where this fits in learning
Before this, children enjoy listening to stories, joining in with repeated phrases and talking about the characters. Familiar stories help them to remember what happens and to use new words.
After this, children can retell stories with a clear beginning, middle and end, and talk about why characters act as they do. In school, this grows into sequencing events in stories and writing simple sentences in order.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Little Red Hen Story Order for?
It is written for Ages 2 to 4, in Early Years. Younger children will need an adult to read every line and do the talking, while older children may be able to say the order with only a little help.
- What will children practise?
Children practise listening, story order and speaking. They listen to a well known story and say what happens first, next and last. This links to EYFS Communication and Language.
- How do I use it?
Tell the story first, then read each line aloud. Let your child say what comes next. Work through it together the first time and check against the answers on page 2 afterwards.
- What if it feels too hard?
Act out each step with toy animals. Tell the story slowly, move the toys with each part, then read the sheet lines one at a time. You can also stop and try again on another day.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or use it again with the same child on another day.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper, a pencil and an adult to read and talk. It works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays, and it encourages children to speak and think.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2, which has the notes and answers, for the adult.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.