Story sequence: what happens next?

A drawing for a friend

Nia makes a picture for a friend. First, she gets paper. Next, she draws a star. Then, she colors the star yellow. Finally, she gives the picture to her friend. These events happen in an order. Let us follow them.

Find the first event

What happens first? Nia gets the paper. The word first is a clue. She needs something to draw on before she draws her star. Drawing in the air might be fun, but it does not leave a picture on the paper.

Follow the middle

Next, Nia draws a star. Then, she adds yellow color. Next and then help us follow the middle of the story. Check the actions too. In this story, the outline is drawn before the star is colored.

Reach the ending

Finally, Nia gives the picture to her friend. Finally points to the last event in this story. It does not mean nothing ever happens again. Her friend might put the picture on a wall, but this story does not tell us that.

Pause and remember

Now pause and think. What did Nia do just before coloring the star? Use the story, not a guess about what you might do. Say the missing event out loud, or point to where it belongs in the order.

Put the missing event back

Nia drew the star just before coloring it. First paper, next drawing, then coloring, finally giving. You found the missing step by looking at the events around it. Before and after help us explain where an event belongs.

Order can change a story

Fun fact: moving an event can change what a story means. If we say Nia gives the finished picture before she gets any paper, our story needs another explanation. Maybe she made a different picture yesterday! That is not the story we read.

Follow another sequence

Look for time words, then check what the story actually says. Now continue to the worksheet about Eli and a paper boat. Follow the events in that new story. Put its steps in order, and explain what happens before and after each step.