The Smart Cookie | Retelling & Sequencing Book Companion

Read it. Sequence it. Retell it! 📚✂️

Bring the beloved picture book The Smart Cookie by Jory John and illustrated by Pete Oswald to life with this engaging, hands-on retelling and sequencing activity!

Perfect for kindergarten through second grade, this ready-to-print book companion helps students strengthen reading comprehension by identifying important story events, putting them in order, and retelling the story using visual supports.

Through simple cut-and-paste activities, students will revisit the Smart Cookie's journey while exploring meaningful themes of confidence, perseverance, creativity, and discovering that everyone is smart in their own unique way!

✨ WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Story sequencing picture cards featuring important events from The Smart Cookie

• Cut-and-paste retelling activities to help students organize story events

• Two-event sequencing template for beginning readers

• Five-event sequencing template for more detailed retelling

• Sequencing language supports including In the beginning, Next, Then, After that, and In the end

• Visual supports to help young learners recall and retell the story

• Canva template link for accessing the resource

❤️ HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE

1. Read the Story

Begin by reading The Smart Cookie aloud to your students. Discuss the main character, important events, and how the Smart Cookie's feelings about being smart change throughout the story.

2. Sequence the Events

Have students cut out the picture cards and arrange them in the order they happened.

Choose the two-event or five-event sequencing template based on your students' needs.

3. Retell the Story

Encourage students to use the pictures to orally retell the story to a partner, small group, or teacher.

Practice using sequencing language such as first, next, then, after that, and last to help students organize their thinking.

4. Glue & Share

Once students have placed the events in the correct order, they can glue their pictures onto the template and share their retelling!

5. Extend the Learning

Use the story as an opportunity to discuss how everyone has different strengths and talents.

Encourage students to think about what makes them unique and remind them that being smart isn't about knowing everything. It's about learning, growing, trying new things, and discovering what makes each of us special!

WHY TEACHERS WILL LOVE IT

This simple, meaningful activity helps students:

• Identify important story events

• Sequence events in the correct order

• Strengthen reading comprehension

• Practice oral storytelling and retelling

• Use sequencing words to organize their thinking

• Recognize character feelings and changes

• Develop fine motor skills through cutting and gluing

• Make connections between literature and social-emotional learning

• Build confidence in their own abilities

PERFECT FOR

• Kindergarten through second grade

• Interactive read-aloud lessons

• Story retelling and sequencing

• Reading comprehension practice

• Literacy centers

• Small-group instruction

• Partner activities

• Growth mindset and confidence lessons

• Social-emotional learning

🖨️ DIGITAL RESOURCE — CANVA LINK INCLUDED

With your purchase, you'll receive access to a Canva template link where you can access the resource and prepare it for printing.

Simply open the link, print the activities, and you're ready to go!

PLEASE NOTE

This is a digital book companion resource. The physical picture book The Smart Cookie is not included and must be purchased or borrowed separately.

This resource is independently created and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jory John, Pete Oswald, or the publisher of The Smart Cookie.