The present study examined the effect of preceding activities upon the attending behavior of preschool children while listening to a story in a large group situation. Attending in the group subsequent to active play was compared with attending in the group subsequent to a quiet activity. The four subjects of this research ranged in age from 3 to 4 years and were a representative sample of the entire groups's attending behavior. The active play period took place outside where the children had access to playground equipment. Quiet indoor activities consisted of performing conceptual tasks, looking at books, or playing a game at a table. Observation of the children's attending behavior took place during large group. The observer used a 15-second scanning procedure and recorded whether the subjects were attending while a story was being read or a movie shown. Attending was defined according to bodily position directed toward the designated stimuli; silence; response to teacher instructions; display of disruptive behavior, and closeness to the group. Results indicated that the children were less attentive in large group when a quiet activity preceded it than when an active activity preceded it. This study points up the fact that behavior can be altered by scheduling a preceding activity which will reduce the occasion for inappropriate behavior. (Author/MS)