Activity for following directions

19 Activities for Middle School Students to Improve Following Directions

Whether 1-step directions or multi-step directions, students need practice and clear expectations. Students follow hundreds of directions every year at school and at home. In order to improve their ability to process oral directions and listening skills, you can incorporate fun activities into your school day.

Try some of these 19 activities and notice the difference you will see over a period of time, as students improve with following directions.

Incorporate your school curriculum into teaching kids to follow directions. Using science experiments in your school setting will improve academics, engage students, and strengthen students' following directions skills and abilities.

Learn More: Moms

Further developing science skills and learning to code are beneficial for so many reasons. In addition to helping students learn computer science skills, they can also work on fine motor skills and improve following directions skills. Coding is ideal and appropriate for all grade levels.

Learn More: Teach Your Kids Code

This worksheet takes on the form of a riddle or secret code to be solved. For students who need a break from screen time, let them try to decipher the code by solving the riddles. The following directions worksheet is a good way to also encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

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Simple instructions will be easy to follow and form a unique craft! This activity uses multi-step directions to have students create a paper masterpiece. Students will need to pay attention to directions and details to be successful in this awesome activity.

Learn More: Speech Snacks

5. Boat Craft

This fun and challenging activity allows some creative freedom but requires multi-step directions as well. This activity is great for upper elementary teachers or middle school teachers to use with their students.

Learn More: Pedia Staff

This activity will require key listening skills. Teaching students to make something with their hands is a great way to improve following directions. This is ideal for motor skills as well. Students may have a harder time working with their hands, so making the teacher aware of expectations is key.

Learn More: Moms

Giving the child directions for this printable activity is key. Lists of directions are included for students to read themselves or for the teacher to call out to them. Precise directions will help students know when to do each step in the process.

Learn More: Tam Aqua K12

8. Summer Olympics Following Directions Game 

This adorable summer Olympics game is great for following directions. Perfectly themed activity sheets are designed for listening activities that focus on teaching students 1-step directions, 2-step sequential directions, and even 3-step sequential directions.

Learn More: Speech Time Fun

This leaf craft is a perfect hands-on activity for teaching students the importance of following directions. As they listen and perform each task in each step, students' following directions skills will improve with practice.

Learn More: Inspontaneous Speech

These easily printable maps are easy to use. There are several themes to choose from. Each is accompanied by a list of instructions. Students can read them or listen as teachers read them aloud.

Learn More: Making Learning Fun

11. Star Wars Directions Game 

Fun games, like this Star Wars following directions game, are great for helping students practice how to properly follow directions. This interactive game allows students to work within groups and collaborate and interact with others.

Learn More: Teach This

Glyphs are a fantastic resource for upper elementary and middle school students who need to practice following directions. Students will use white drawing paper to draw a picture, based on listening to directions and using what applies to them individually.

Learn More: Teach With Me

These before and after statements are great for older kids. This is a way to let students interact in groups and follow directions. On slips of paper, you will write in events and use them to complete this activity.

Learn More: Miss Barrett Speech Language

14. Listening Skills Holiday Sheet

These printable worksheets will be helpful for children with language skills needing improvement or for students to practice following directions. They are holiday themed and ideal for key listening skills and multi-step directions.

Learn More: Resources From Rachel

This fun quiz-type sheet is helpful in assessing how well students follow directions. This is a great way to see if they can follow targeted directions and if not, where the breakdown occurs so you will know what to work on.

Learn More: The Worksheets

This directions sheet is a breakdown of 4-step directions. Each section requires students to look ahead to see what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. They are working to follow directions in each step.

Learn More: The Worksheets

17. Relay Races

Relay races get students up and moving. Teachers can customize this activity to get students to practice following directions in a nontraditional way. Students can follow directions and work with their teams to see who can win each challenge.

Learn More: Mr Physed

This following directions activity is good for working on following directions and literal directions. Students can cut and place items in places, dependent on prepositional directions. This is especially good for bilingual students.

Learn More: The Worksheets

Constructing paper airplanes is fun and ideal for practicing following directions. Let students use a template and guide for directions or orally tell them what to do. Either way, they will get good practice and finish with a nice end result.

Learn More: Speech Snacks

7 Core Following Directions Activities for Kids That'll Improve Listening

Inside: Quick and easy following directions activities for kids that will help them practice self-control, emotional regulation and improve listening skills.

There was a joke traveling around years ago from Carrie On Y’all that said, “Maybe if I start yelling ‘Get your shoes on!’ the night before, we could get to school on time the next day.”

Honestly, the struggle is real.

Kids need A LOT of practice to learn basic life skills.

Following directions activities can support better listening skills in your child.

Teaching kids to follow directions isn’t as simple as doing a listening activity for kids, watching fairy dust shower from above, and seeing your kids transform into magical listeners.

Several years ago I was getting ready to take my son to school. He insisted—like life or death insisted—that he needed to wear his green shoes.

So I helped him find his green shoes, laid them out on the floor, and then realized I made a horrible mistake.

He shook his head and said, “No green shoes, mom. Nooo!”

In exactly two minutes, the green shoes went from being my complaining child’s most prized possession to the most horrible and disgusting shoes one could don.

Related Posts:

• 2 year old not listening? Try this remarkable tip.
• 10 Totally Awesome Tricks for Independent Kids 

Teaching kids to follow directions – let’s simplify.

1. Connection first. Attention follows.

A few brief moments using SAY WHAT YOU SEE®, where you describe what your child is thinking, doing, feeling or saying, makes a big difference. This is the building block of connection, and when kids feel connected to you, they are for more likely to cooperate.

It might sound something like, “You’re drawing a picture with big green squares and red lines.”

No brainer, right? And yet, I still find myself talking to my kids without taking a brief moment for connection.

Sharing a set of instructions before you briefly connect with your child is like speaking foreign language. It can fall flat.

I know I have my child’s full attention when I have two things:

• Eye contact
• Eyes level (get down to the child’s level).

2. Be short and specific.

Kids tend to hear a lot of conversational white noise when adults are speaking to them. Say exactly what needs to be said for your child to follow your directions. Trim everything else out.

Instead of… “Hurry up. We gotta get out the door for this appointment. Get your coat lets go.”

Try… “Coat please.” Or, “You’re missing a coat.”

3. Use “wait time.”

This is a great strategy that I learned from a teacher. After giving a set of instructions to your kids, pause for 3-7 seconds to allow their brain to process and apply the information. Research shows kids are more likely to follow directions if you give them “wait time” or a hearty pause.

As adults, we are used to processing information much quicker, but kids…they take time.

Think of it this way: Keeping realistic expectations and waiting is the difference between you giving up and throwing your tea in the air vs. you calmly taking a sip of your tea while you employ “wait time.”

4. Unless you are offering a choice, don’t ask.

If your directions aren’t up for negotiation, keep that door firmly closed. Offering choices is a fabulous way to help end power struggles and enjoy a happier home.

But…everything in life is not always a choice. If you can’t offer a choice within a parental boundary you feel good about, give instructions as a statement, rather than a question.

Instead of… “Can you pick up your toys?”

Try… “I see toys on the floor and it’s time to leave.”

Or if you’d like to offer a choice, you can say something like, “I see blocks and dolls. Show me which one you want to put away first.”

5. Practice using following directions activities.

In order to build great listening skills, kids need a lot of practice…A LOT.

Which makes sense! I think we all can relate to needing a lot of practice before we can get good at anything. I could tell you a few stories about burnt dinner rolls for the past five years, but that’s a story for another day 🙂

Related:

• 50+ Best Simple Games for 2 Year Olds and Up
• The Ultimate List of Board Games for 2 Year Olds

7 core following directions activities for kids.

There are several good ‘ole fashioned standby games to play with kids to help them 1) Listen and hear what you are instructing and 2) Practice following the directions you shared.

1. Simon Says

One person is Simon or Elmo or Dora or Spiderman or Teacher or Whoever, and this person is the “leader.” Simon gives a set of instructions and everyone else follows. The person who doesn’t follow the instructions is “out.” And the person who follows the instructions throughout the game, wins Simon Says.

2. Red Light, Green Light.

One person is the leader who calls out “Red Light” or “Green Light.” When the leader calls out “Red Light,” everyone stops. When the leader calls out “Green Light,” everyone goes. Anyone who doesn’t stop or freeze during “Red Light” is out.

3. Follow the Leader.

Take a walk around your house or outside and whatever you (or the leader) does, everyone else must follow. This is a great game to allow your child to be the leader and have you follow your child. It’s a perfect opportunity to model following directions for your child!

4. Map Game

Try this map game and help your kids work their way through the grid following the directions given. Practice counting and using the words left, right, forward, and backward.

5. Two-step direction games.

Do one of these 2-step direction games with your kids. This is perfect for preschoolers and above! Have your kids follow some of the 2-step directions throughout the day (e.g. Shake your head “yes” and then quack like a duck.) Brilliant!

6. Lego® Game

If you have kids who are old enough to play a board game, try this Lego Game to help your kids practice reading directions and following them.

7. Visual direction activities.

With kids, visual directions are so important! You can make life simpler and fun using visual directions for your kids, such as a printable daily schedule for kids.

• Bedtime routine cards
• Morning routine cards
• Mealtime routine cards

Using routines is a great way to support cooperation and help your kids learn to follow directions.

They are also energy saving, AND a great way to avoid yelling “Green shoes!” ten times every morning or “Eat your dinner!” six times every evening.

Grab your FREE Following Directions Checklist Here!

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Article 12. Educational programs \ ConsultantPlus

Article 12. Educational programs

1. Educational programs determine the content of education. The content of education should promote mutual understanding and cooperation between people, nations, regardless of racial, national, ethnic, religious and social affiliation, take into account the diversity of worldview approaches, promote the realization of the right of students to freely choose opinions and beliefs, ensure the development of the abilities of each person, the formation and development of his personality in accordance with the spiritual, moral and socio-cultural values ​​accepted in the family and society. The content of vocational education and vocational training should ensure the acquisition of qualifications.

2. In the Russian Federation, basic educational programs are implemented in terms of the levels of general and vocational education, vocational training, and additional educational programs in additional education.

3. Basic educational programs include:

1) basic general education programs - educational programs of preschool education, educational programs of primary general education, educational programs of basic general education, educational programs of secondary general education;

2) basic professional educational programs:

a) educational programs of secondary vocational education - training programs for skilled workers, employees, training programs for mid-level specialists;

b) educational programs of higher education - bachelor's degree programs, specialist's degree programs, master's degree programs, programs for the preparation of scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel in graduate school (adjuncture), residency programs, assistant-internship programs;

(as amended by the Federal Law of December 30, 2020 N 517-FZ)

(see the text in the previous edition)

employees, advanced training programs for workers and employees.

4. Additional educational programs include:

Consultant Plus: note.

From 01/01/2023 in paragraph 1 of part 4 of Art. 12 are amended (FZ dated April 30, 2021 N 127-FZ). See future edition.

1) additional general education programs - additional general development programs, additional pre-professional programs;

2) additional professional programs - advanced training programs, professional retraining programs.

5. Educational programs are independently developed and approved by the organization carrying out educational activities, unless otherwise provided by this Federal Law.

6. Educational programs for preschool education are developed and approved by the organization carrying out educational activities in accordance with the federal state educational standard for preschool education and the corresponding federal educational program for preschool education. The content and planned results of educational programs developed by educational organizations should not be lower than the corresponding content and planned results of the federal program of preschool education.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022)

(see the text in the previous edition)

ConsultantPlus: note.

Basic general education programs must be brought into line with the federal basic general education programs no later than 09/01/2023 (Federal Law of 09/24/2022 N 371-FZ).

Consultant Plus: note.

Part 6.1 Art. 12 comes into force on January 1, 2023 (FZ No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022).

6.1. Organizations carrying out educational activities in accordance with educational programs of primary general, basic general, secondary general education that have state accreditation develop educational programs in accordance with federal state educational standards and the corresponding federal basic general educational programs. The content and planned results of educational programs developed by educational organizations must not be lower than the corresponding content and planned results of federal basic general educational programs.

(Part 6.1 was introduced by Federal Law No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022)

ConsultantPlus: note.

Part 6.2 Art. 12 comes into force on January 1, 2023 (FZ No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022).

6.2. An organization carrying out educational activities in accordance with educational programs of basic general, secondary general education that have state accreditation, when developing an appropriate general education program, has the right to provide for the redistribution of the time provided for in the federal curriculum for the study of subjects for which state final certification is not carried out, in favor of studying other educational subjects, including the organization of in-depth study of individual subjects and specialized training.

(Part 6.2 was introduced by Federal Law No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022)

ConsultantPlus: note.

Part 6.3 Art. 12 comes into force on January 1, 2023 (FZ No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022).

6. 3. When developing the main general education program, organizations that carry out educational activities according to educational programs of primary general, basic general, secondary general education that have state accreditation, provide for the direct application in the implementation of the mandatory part of the educational program of primary general education of federal work programs in the subjects "Russian language", " Literary reading" and "World around", and in the implementation of the mandatory part of the educational programs of basic general and secondary general education of federal work programs in the subjects "Russian language", "Literature", "History", "Social studies", "Geography" and " Fundamentals of life safety".

(Part 6.3 was introduced by Federal Law No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022)

ConsultantPlus: note.

Part 6.4 Art. 12 comes into force on January 1, 2023 (FZ No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022).

6.4. Organizations carrying out educational activities specified in Parts 6 and 6. 1 of this Article shall have the right to directly apply the federal basic general education programs in the implementation of the relevant basic general education programs, as well as provide for the use of the federal curriculum, and (or) the federal calendar study schedule, and (or) subjects, courses, disciplines (modules) not specified in part 6.3 of this article. In this case, the corresponding educational and methodological documentation is not developed.

(Part 6.4 was introduced by Federal Law No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022)

6.5. Federal basic general education programs are developed taking into account their level and focus, the possibility of organizing an in-depth study of individual subjects and specialized training based on federal state educational standards and are approved by the federal executive body responsible for the development and implementation of state policy and legal regulation in the field of general education, in the manner prescribed by this federal executive body.

(Part 6.5 was introduced by Federal Law No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022)

6.6. Authorized state authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are involved in the development of federal basic general educational programs (in terms of taking into account regional, national and ethno-cultural characteristics).

(Part 6.6 was introduced by Federal Law No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022)

exemplary educational programs of secondary vocational education. Organizations carrying out educational activities in accordance with state-accredited educational programs of higher education (with the exception of educational programs of higher education implemented on the basis of educational standards approved by educational institutions of higher education independently), develop educational programs in accordance with federal state educational standards.

(as amended by Federal Laws No. 144-FZ of May 26, 2021, No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022)

(see the text in the previous edition)

7. 1. Organizations carrying out educational activities under programs for the training of scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel in graduate school (adjuncture) (with the exception of training programs for scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel in graduate school (adjuncture), implemented on the basis of independently established requirements approved by educational institutions of higher education), develop these educational programs in accordance with federal state requirements.

(Part 7.1 was introduced by Federal Law No. 517-FZ of December 30, 2020)

7.2. Lost strength. - Federal Law of September 24, 2022 N 371-FZ.

(see the text in the previous edition)

established requirements.

(Part 8 as amended by Federal Law No. 517-FZ of December 30, 2020)

(see the text in the previous edition)

8.1. Educational programs of higher education in terms of professional competencies are developed by organizations engaged in educational activities on the basis of professional standards (if any) and may include competencies assigned to one or more specialties and areas of training at the appropriate levels of professional education or to enlarged groups of specialties and directions of training, as well as to the area (areas) and type (types) of professional activity, including taking into account the possibility of simultaneous acquisition of several qualifications by students.

(Part 8.1 was introduced by Federal Law No. 144-FZ of May 26, 2021)

(if any) and may include competencies related to one or more professions and specialties at the appropriate levels of professional education or to enlarged groups of professions, specialties, as well as to the area (areas) and type (s) of professional activity, including taking into account the possibility of simultaneous obtaining by students of several qualifications.

(as amended by Federal Laws No. 144-FZ of May 26, 2021, No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022)

(see the text in the previous edition)

9.1. Exemplary educational programs of secondary vocational education include an exemplary work program of education and an exemplary calendar plan of educational work.

(Part 9.1 was introduced by Federal Law No. 304-FZ of 31.07.2020; as amended by Federal Laws No. 144-FZ of 26.05.2021, No. 371-FZ of 24.09.2022)

(see the text in the previous version)

10. Exemplary educational programs of secondary vocational education are included, based on the results of the examination, in the register of exemplary educational programs of secondary vocational education, which is the state information system. The information contained in the register of exemplary educational programs of secondary vocational education is publicly available.

(as amended by Federal Law No. 371-FZ of September 24, 2022)

(see the text in the previous edition)

11. The procedure for developing exemplary educational programs of secondary vocational education, conducting their examination and maintaining a register of these exemplary basic educational programs, features of the development, examination and inclusion in such a register of exemplary basic educational programs of secondary vocational education containing information constituting a state secret, and exemplary basic educational programs of secondary vocational education in the field of information security, as well as organizations that are granted the right to maintain a register of exemplary educational programs of secondary vocational education, are established by the federal executive body that performs the functions of developing and implementing state policy and legal regulation in the field general education, unless otherwise provided by this Federal Law.

(as amended by Federal Laws No. 232-FZ of 26.07.2019, No. 144-FZ of 26.05.2021, No. 371-FZ of 24.09.2022)

(see the text in the previous edition)

12. Lost strength. - Federal Law of September 24, 2022 N 371-FZ.

(see the text in the previous edition)

performing the functions of developing and implementing state policy and legal regulation in the field of healthcare.

(Part 13 as amended by Federal Law No. 517-FZ of December 30, 2020)

(see the text in the previous edition)

professional programs or standard additional professional programs, in accordance with which organizations engaged in educational activities develop corresponding additional professional programs.

Consultant Plus: note.

From 01.01.2023 in Part 15 of Art. 12 are amended (FZ dated April 30, 2021 N 127-FZ). See future edition.

15. In the cases established by this Federal Law and other federal laws, the authorized federal state bodies develop and approve exemplary vocational training programs or standard vocational training programs, in accordance with which organizations engaged in educational activities develop appropriate vocational training programs.

Municipal educational institution of additional education Center for extracurricular activities

Artistic orientation Programs of artistic orientation in the system of additional education are focused on the development of children's creative abilities in various fields of art and culture, the transfer of the spiritual and cultural experience of mankind, the education of a creative personality, and students receiving the basics of future professional education. The main goal of this direction is: the disclosure of the creative abilities of students, the moral and artistic and aesthetic development of the child's personality. The artistic orientation includes the following groups of programs: performance on strings, folk, wind, keyboards, percussion instruments, orchestras and ensembles, solo vocals, choral singing, pop-jazz creativity, theatrical creativity, circus art, choreographic art, artistic word, literary creativity, fine arts, arts and crafts, design. Technical focus Technical programs in the system of additional education are focused on the development of technical and creative abilities and skills of students, the organization of research activities, professional self-determination. The technical focus includes the following program groups: technical design, modeling and prototyping (lego design and modeling, robotics, aircraft, ship, rocket or car modeling, etc.), production technologies (radio electronics, technical design, ergonomics, etc.), multimedia and IT technologies (film art technologies, photo technologies, programming and WEB design, etc.), technical creativity and innovative entrepreneurship (innovative business technologies, project activities, research activities). Natural sciences Natural science programs in the system of additional education are focused on developing students' interest in the study and protection of nature, biology, geography, ecology and other Earth sciences, which are the main part of continuous environmental education. Currently, environmental education is becoming significant in organizing a system of continuous environmental education and upbringing of the younger generation. A special factor that determines the specifics of environmental education in this direction is the organization of purposeful practical activities, as an indispensable condition for all activities of institutions of additional education in environmental education, in whatever form it is organized. The natural science orientation includes the following groups of programs: fundamentals and in-depth study of ecology and biology (general ecology, modern environmental problems, botany, etc.), applied environmental and biological programs (aquarium, nature conservation, crop production, etc.). Social and humanitarian orientation Programs of a social and humanitarian orientation are focused on the study of the psychological characteristics of a person, the knowledge of the motives of one's behavior, the study of self-control methods, the formation of a person as a member of a team, and in the future as a member of society, the study of interpersonal relationships, adaptation in a team. The social self-determination of children and the development of children's social initiative is at the present stage one of the main tasks of the social and humanitarian direction, which is relevant, first of all, because now the problem of educating a personality capable of acting universally, owning a culture of social self-determination is coming to the fore. And for this it is important to form the experience of living in a social system, to outline professional prospects. Educational programs of this direction cover a wide age range and are multifunctional in their purpose. The social and pedagogical focus includes the following groups of programs: development of preschoolers (socialization and communication, intellectual development, speech therapy, artistic, aesthetic and creative development, preparation for school, sociocultural adaptation of children, including migrants, etc.), classes with children with disabilities (correction and socio-cultural rehabilitation of children with disabilities, inclusion), basics of media and information technologies, basics of psychology, sociology, political science and law, game technology and game design , Career guidance and pre-vocational training. Learn more Red riding hood story kids Baby stories to read aloud Math skills kindergarten The good dinosaur bedtime story Read a letter List of long and short vowel words Reading assignments for 1st grade Best fairy tale books for toddlers How to teach a 2 year old colors Safari dramatic play Homer pbs kids