Students put a story’s events back in order and learn the signal words — first, next, then, last — that make a retelling clear and easy to follow.
Students will be able to…
If you tell a story out of order, it stops making sense. How do good readers keep the events straight from beginning to end?
Project this and tap the events into the right order — First, Next, Then, Last. The tool checks the sequence and shows what a clear retelling looks like.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
Tell a familiar story’s ending first — confusing, right?
Teacher orders events with signal words.
Class uses Order the Events.
Students sequence a new story.
Students retell in order.
Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.
Recount stories; determine the central message and explain how it is conveyed through key details.
Describe the overall structure of a story, including beginning, middle, and end (foundational).
Use temporal words and phrases to signal event order.
Recount an experience or story with facts and relevant, descriptive details in order.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students draw a four-panel comic of a story’s events — First, Next, Then, Last — with a signal word in each panel. A printable comic-strip template is in the ELA library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.