Sofia woke early to bake cookies for her class. She measured flour and sugar carefully, then mixed the dough. After baking, she cooled and packed the cookies in a box. At school, she shared them with friends.

Sofia woke early to bake cookies → She measured the flour and sugar → She packed the cookies in a box → She shared cookies with her friends.

Malik planted seeds in cups for a science fair. He pressed them into soil, watered them, and placed them in sunlight. Later, he displayed his plants proudly at the fair.

Malik filled small cups with soil → He pressed seeds into each cup → He watered and checked for sprouts → He displayed his plants at the fair.

Aisha found an old camera, cleaned it, and charged the battery. She took pictures at the park, printed her favorites, and made an album to show her family.

Aisha found an old camera → She cleaned the lens and charged the battery → She took pictures at the park → She printed photos and made an album.

Diego practiced his lines for a play, rehearsed stage movements, dressed in costume, and performed confidently on stage.

Diego memorized his lines for the play → He rehearsed with a friend and learned movements → He put on his costume before the show → He stepped onto the stage to perform.

Hana prepared a surprise picnic by making food, setting out a blanket, arranging items, and inviting her grandparents to join.

Hana made sandwiches and sliced fruit → She poured lemonade and spread a blanket → She arranged the food carefully in the garden → She called her grandparents to enjoy the picnic.

Lucas completed a book report by reading, taking notes, typing a draft, and turning it in to his teacher.

Lucas read the last chapter of the book → He wrote notes and a conclusion paragraph → He typed and printed his final draft → He handed the report to his teacher.

Priya folded a paper crane by starting with a square sheet, following folding steps, adding details, and displaying it in class.

Priya picked a square sheet of paper → She followed folding steps and made precise creases → She smoothed the crane and added a paper eye → She placed the paper crane on the display board.

Noah trained his dog by giving commands, praising it, increasing practice, and finally going on a walk together.

Noah gave a treat and the sit command → He praised the dog when it obeyed → He increased the practice time for staying → He took the dog on a calm walk.

Maya repaired a fence with her neighbor by holding boards, hammering nails, cleaning up, and returning tools.

Maya gathered tools and held boards steady → She helped hammer nails and repair the fence → She cleaned up the work area → She returned the tools and waved goodbye.

Mateo built a birdhouse by planning, measuring, nailing, painting, and hanging it in a tree.

Mateo drew a plan and measured wood pieces → He cut and nailed the pieces together → He sanded and painted the birdhouse → He hung it on a tree for birds.

Zoe baked banana bread by mashing bananas, mixing batter, cooling the loaf, and sharing it with her sister.

Zoe mashed ripe bananas for the batter → She mixed the batter and poured it into a pan → She cooled the loaf on a rack → She sliced the bread and shared it.

Elijah studied for his math quiz by practicing flashcards, correcting mistakes, reviewing problems, and packing his bag.

Elijah shuffled flashcards and timed rounds → He corrected mistakes as he practiced → He reviewed the hardest problems → He packed his backpack ready for the quiz.

Kiana organized a plant sale by making tags, arranging plants, helping customers, and counting money afterward.

Kiana designed price tags and sorted plants → She stacked the plants neatly on a table → She greeted customers and helped choose plants → She helped tally the money at the end.

Omar recycled by gathering bags, sorting items, carrying them to a center, and recording results for class.

Omar gathered bags and picked up recyclables → They separated items into the right bins → They carried filled bags to the recycling center → They recorded the amount to report to their teacher.

Lily prepared a speech by writing it, practicing, standing at the microphone, and delivering it to applause.

Lily wrote her speech about kindness → She practiced speaking clearly and added a story → She stood at the microphone at assembly → She delivered her speech and received applause.

Fifth Grade ELA: Sequencing Events

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What does it mean to put events in order?

Putting events in order means arranging the parts of a story from the beginning, to the middle, and then to the end. This helps you understand what happens first, next, and last in a text.

Examples:

First: The boy woke up.
Next: He ate breakfast.
Last: He went to school.

Note

Stories follow a sequence. Pay attention to time order words like first, next, then, and finally to help you keep track.

Why is sequencing important?

Sequencing helps readers follow the story clearly. Without knowing the correct order of events, the story may not make sense.

Example:

If you read: “He went to bed. He brushed his teeth.” → The order is wrong.
Correct order: “He brushed his teeth. Then he went to bed.”

Note

Always think: does this order of events make sense in real life?

How do you find the order of events?

Look for signal words, time clues, or natural steps in a process. These help you figure out what comes first, next, and last.

Examples of signal words:

First
Next
Then
After that
Finally

Note

Not every story uses these words, so pay attention to actions and what makes sense in the story’s timeline.

Practice sequencing with a short passage

Try reading a short passage and put the sentences in order to check your understanding.

Example passage:

“She put on her shoes.”
“She tied the laces.”
“She went outside to play.”

Correct order: She put on her shoes → She tied the laces → She went outside to play.

Note

Check that each event leads smoothly to the next. If it feels out of place, try rearranging it.

Tips for remembering sequences

You can use different strategies to help remember the order of events in a text.

Helpful strategies:

Draw a timeline.
Retell the story to a friend.
Write “first, next, last” notes in the margin.

Note

Practice makes sequencing easier. The more you read, the better you get at putting events in order.

Go to the practice →

F.1 Identify the order of events in informational texts

What does it mean to put events in order?

Why is sequencing important?

How do you find the order of events?

Practice sequencing with a short passage

Tips for remembering sequences