Bring reading comprehension to life with our hands-on and highly visual Comprehension Camera: Sequencing Events Craft! This creative activity helps students retell and sequence the events of a story, using a camera-themed craft that doubles as a display-worthy visual retelling tool. Perfect for consolidating plot structure and reinforcing the comprehension strategy of sequencing, this resource makes post-reading tasks fun, purposeful and memorable.

After reading a focus text, students will illustrate key moments of the narrative along a printable film strip. The strip can be as long or short as needed, depending on the number of events being sequenced. Once completed, the strip is threaded through a camera template – either as one ready-to-use piece or assembled using separate parts. The finished product allows students to retell the story by sliding the strip through the lens – a tactile and engaging way to practise sequencing and summarising skills.

Comprehension Camera: Sequencing Events Craft supports students in identifying the beginning, middle and end of a story and encourages thoughtful reflection on key events. It’s ideal for whole-class reading tasks, guided reading responses, book week activities or as a unique summative comprehension display. Students of all ages will enjoy combining creativity with comprehension as they make their own colourful cameras and retelling tools.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Retell events from a narrative in correct sequential order
• ✅ Identify the beginning, middle and end of a text
• ✅ Use illustrations and concise descriptions to summarise key story events
• ✅ Apply fine motor skills through cutting, assembling and crafting
• ✅ Reflect on story structure and improve comprehension through hands-on learning

What’s Included:

• Ready-to-use full camera template
• Individual camera pieces for students to colour, cut and assemble
• Film strip template for sequencing and illustrating story events
• Instructions for assembly and optional display suggestions

Materials Needed:

• Printed templates (either whole camera or individual parts)
• Scissors and glue sticks
• Coloured pencils or markers
• Craft knife (for adult use only) to cut the camera lens slit
• Optional: coloured cardstock for vibrant cameras

How to Use:

1. Read the chosen text with the class, group or individual student.
2. Provide students with the film strip template to illustrate the key events in sequential order.
3. Choose either the full camera template or individual camera parts for students to colour and assemble.
4. Glue or tape the film strip to create a loop, then use a craft knife to make slits in the camera lens for threading.
5. Allow students to share their retellings orally by pulling the strip through as they present their work.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use after reading a class novel or picture book to consolidate understanding of plot structure
• 💡 Integrate into your reading response station or literacy rotations
• 💡 Assign as a take-home comprehension project students can share with families
• 💡 Display finished cameras on a classroom wall or window for a vibrant visual celebration of reading
• 💡 Use during Book Week or as part of an author study to summarise and showcase favourite texts

Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Enlarge templates to A3 for younger learners or students who need more room to draw and write
• 💛 Encourage students to draft or storyboard their events before drawing on the final strip
• 💛 Use colour-coded strips or labels to support EAL/D students in identifying sequence words (first, then, next, finally)
• 💛 Challenge more capable students to include dialogue or captions to deepen their retellings
• 💛 Invite students to use the film strip format for nonfiction recounts or historical event sequencing for cross-curricular links

Comprehension Camera: Sequencing Events Craft is a fun, hands-on way to strengthen students’ sequencing skills – making retelling an exciting, creative and memorable experience.