Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Nativity Story Sequencing: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Nativity Story Sequencing is a free printable RE worksheet for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Children put the traditional nativity story in order, then retell it in their own words. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea 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 parts of the traditional nativity story on cards. There are journeys, a place to stay, a birth, visitors and gifts. Their job is to decide what happens first, what comes next and how the story ends. Children listen to the story, think about the order and then check their choices with a grown up. Retelling it aloud is part of the fun.
- Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem.
- They find a stable to stay in.
- Baby Jesus is born and laid in a manger.
- Shepherds come to see the baby.
- Wise men follow a bright star.
- The wise men bring gifts.
About the nativity story
The nativity story is the Christian account of the birth of Jesus. Christians celebrate it at Christmas, and the word nativity means birth. The story comes from the Bible, where different parts of it are told in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Many schools and churches in England share it each December, often as a play. Children in Year 1 may already know it from songs, cards and cribs.
Sequencing means putting events in order. Stories have a beginning, a middle and an end, and children who can place events correctly are building the skill of retelling. In RE, careful retelling helps children understand a story before they are asked to talk about what it means to people who hold it dear. Handling cards gives every child something to do while they think and talk.
Nativity facts for children
- The word nativity means birth.
- Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas.
- The story is told in the Bible, in the books of Matthew and Luke.
- A manger is a box or trough that holds food for animals.
- A shepherd is a person who looks after sheep.
Skills and curriculum link
- Sequencing
- Retelling
- Listening
- Using first, next and then
- Naming people in a story
What children will be able to do
- I can put the nativity story in order.
- I can retell it in my own words.
- I can name the people in it.
Ideas for the grown up
- Tell it firstTell or read the story in your own words before your child starts. Children order events far more easily when they have just heard them.
- Use a picture bookIf you have a children's nativity book, keep it open beside your child. They can look at the pictures to check what comes next.
- Respect every homeSome children celebrate Christmas and some do not. Say that this is a story Christians tell, and let every child take part in the same way.
- Ask whyWhen a card is placed, ask why it goes there. A child who can say what must happen before it is showing real understanding.
Key words
- NativityThe story of the birth of Jesus.
- SequencePut things in order, one after another.
- RetellTell a story again in your own words.
- MangerA box or trough that holds food for animals.
- StableA building where animals are kept.
- ShepherdA person who looks after sheep.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Tell the traditional story aloud before your child touches the cards. Use a picture book if you have one.
- Read each card together. Let your child decide where it goes and say why.
- Check with page 2. Ask, "What made you choose that one?" The thinking matters as much as the order.
- Come back another day and ask your child to retell the story without the cards. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read each card aloud, one at a time. Ask, "Does this sound like the start of the story?" Match the cards to the pictures in a storybook if you have one. Try a few cards at a time, then add the rest.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to retell the whole story in their own words using the words first, next, then and finally. They could draw a small picture for each part and tell the story to a family member or friend.
Make it a game
Act out the story with soft toys. Your child chooses who plays each part and moves them in the right order while you narrate. Swap roles, so your child becomes the storyteller and you move the toys.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child starts with the part they like best, such as the visitors, instead of the start of the story.
Try thisAsk, "What must happen before this?" Retell the story together from the very beginning, then try again.
Watch forA child mixes up the different groups of visitors.
Try thisTalk about who each group is and what they do in the story. Use a picture book to look at them side by side.
Watch forA child guesses without reading the cards.
Try thisRead every card aloud before any are placed. Then choose one card at a time and say why it goes there.
Talk about it
- What do you already know about the nativity story?
- Which part of the story do you like best? Why?
- Who is in the story? How many people can you name?
- What would you say if you were telling this to someone who had never heard it?
- Have you seen a nativity play, a crib or a Christmas card with this story on it?
- How do you think the people in the story felt?
Take it off the page
Nativity scene
Make a simple scene from paper, card or building bricks. Use it to tell the story, moving the figures as you go.
Story strip
Fold a strip of paper into sections. Draw one part of the story in each section, then use the strip to retell it.
Story walk
Choose spots around the house or garden for the parts of the story. Walk from place to place and tell each part as you arrive.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Tell the story first, talk about each choice and praise effort and thinking. Short bursts work better than long sessions.
Teachers
Use it as a starter or plenary in an RE lesson on the nativity, as an early finisher task or as a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with a picture book, role play and everyday talk. It fits into a wider RE plan, and you can print it again for brothers and sisters or to revisit the story a few weeks later.
Where this fits in
Before this sheet, children learn to listen to a story, talk about what happened and use words such as first and then. Simple sequencing of everyday events and familiar tales gives them the skill they need here.
After this sheet, children can retell other stories from RE with more detail, and begin to talk about what stories mean to the people who share them. In Year 2 they build on this with longer retellings and more careful questions.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What happens first?
- Who comes to visit?
- How would you tell the story to someone who has not heard it?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Nativity Story Sequencing for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can enjoy the retelling with help, and older children can use the stretch idea on page 2.
- Do children need to know the story first?
No, but it helps. Tell or read the traditional story before your child starts. Then they can focus on putting events in order rather than guessing what happens.
- Is it suitable for children who do not celebrate Christmas?
Yes. It is a traditional story used in RE. Explain that it is a story Christians tell, and let every child take part. Learning about different beliefs is a normal part of RE.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Read each card aloud and match it to a picture book if you have one. Work on a few cards at a time. Page 2 has more help ideas for the grown up.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another class.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, so you do not need any special ink or paper.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 gives answers and ideas for mixed ability groups.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.