On to the Next Thing

Scripture: Genesis 37

Learning Objectives:

  • Students will use transition words to recognize and write the order of a story.
  • Students will review the events leading up to Joseph’s life in Egypt.

Guiding Questions:

  • What are the most common English transition words?
  • How can I use transition words to tell the order in a story?

Materials:
Markers
Pencils (optional for writing)
Large cards or pieces of paper each with one of the following words written on it: First, Second, Third, Next, Then, Finally
Strips of paper with the story of Joseph, (each one beginning with one of the transition words)

Procedure: Review the story of Joseph. Explain that stories always have a specific order to them. In English, special words called transition words can tell the order of events and link one idea to another. Introduce the words: First, Second, Third, Next, Then, Finally. Give each student a piece of paper with the transition word written on it. Discuss the order in which you would find each word. They are like sign posts that guide you. Explain that words like “then” and “next” could go anywhere except for the very beginning. Have the students scramble themselves and then put themselves in a reasonable order. Have students look back at Genesis 37 and find transition words.

Tell students that they are going to put the story in order and can use transition words as clues. Suggestion: First, Joseph was born to Jacob when he was old. Second, Joseph told his father a bad report about his brothers. Next, Joseph had dreams about his family bowing to him. Then, Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him. Finally, Joseph’s brothers decided to sell him to the Ishmaelites.

Additional Questions:

  • What other transition words can help you tell when something happened?
  • When would transition words be helpful besides in stories? (ex: recipes, schedules)?

Supplemental Activity: Have students plan what they think would be a perfect day. They will use transition words to tell or write what they would do throughout the day starting with the first thing they do in the morning and ending with the last thing they do at night. Use at least five transition words. Encourage students who are not advanced enough in their English to write about their full day, to at least begin each sentence with an English transition word.

Written by: Savannah Negas

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