Story order: ready for the puppet show

A tiny show with a big shadow

In our made-up story, Milo wants to give a shadow puppet show. He draws a dragon, cuts out the shape, and attaches a stick. Then he tests its shadow with a lamp before inviting his sister. Our job is to follow what this story says happened.

Start with the first action

Milo draws the dragon first. The drawing gives him a shape to cut around. Cutting is next, not last. When you retell an event, look for a detail that puts it in time. A dragon cannot complain about its haircut, but our story still needs the steps in order.

Look just before and just after

After cutting, Milo attaches a stick. After attaching it, he tests the shadow. So attaching is just before testing, and cutting is just before attaching. Before and after depend on which event we are talking about. Point to the event first, then look beside it.

Order can help explain a choice

Milo tests the shadow before inviting his sister. This gives him a chance to see whether the puppet works. We can use the story's details to explain that choice. We should not invent a broken lamp, a missing dragon, or an audience of a hundred people.

Pause: find the missing action

Pause and fill the gap in this story sequence. Milo draws the dragon, cuts out the shape, does one more action, tests the shadow, and invites his sister. Which action belongs in the gap? Use the story rather than choosing something that only sounds possible.

Restore the missing step

The missing action is attaching the stick. It comes after cutting and before testing. We can check our answer by reading the whole sequence again. Draw, cut, attach, test, invite. The middle action now connects the steps around it without adding a new event.

A little word changes the order

Fun fact: changing one time word can reverse the order of two actions. Testing before inviting means the test comes first. Testing after inviting means the invitation comes first. The actions are the same, but the time word changes how we arrange them.

Retell it, then practice

Continue to the worksheet and read the puppet story there. Try retelling it with first, next, then, and finally before answering. When a question asks why an action helps, point to a story detail. Keep a clear boundary between what happened and what you imagine.