Time Order

What is Sequence?

Sequence means time order.

Something happens first, next and last.

In some stories, we tell the order with the beginning, middle and end.

How can you find sequence in a story?

Look for "clue words" that tell time.

Here are examples of some time words.

first                   next                     last               summer

later                 during                  today            that night

Practice

Look for time clue words as you read the story below.  

Answer the questions to tell what happened first, next, or last.  Then put the events in time order. 

John Muir

1     Many people try to protect nature now.  But one hundred years ago, few people thought about it.  John Muir helped change that.  Muir was born in Scotland.  Later he moved with his family to a farm in Wisconsin. 

Where did Muir live first?

A. Scotland             

B. Wisconsin             

C. Yosemite

 

2     John Muir loved nature.  He also loved to invent things.  But in 1867 an accident almost cost him an eye.  Muir gave up inventing.  That same year he began a thousand-mile walk to the Gulf of Mexico.  Later he wrote a book about the plants and animals he saw. 

What happened just before Muir walked to the Gulf of Mexico?

A. he wrote a book about what he saw 
B. he grew up on a farm 
C. he almost lost an eye

3     In 1868, John Muir visited the Yosemite Valley in California.  He spent six years exploring this part of the West.  Muir became convinced that the government needed to save areas of great beauty.  In 1890, Muir persuaded Congress to set up Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks.  In 1892, he founded the Sierra Club.

When was the Sierra Club founded?

A. before Muir went on a thousand-mile walk 
B. after Yosemite became a national park 
C. while Muir was an inventor 

Put the events in the order the happened.  Imagine a 1, 2, or 3 on the line next to each statement.  The number 1 belongs on the line next to what happened first, 2 by what happened next and 3 by what happened last.

______ Muir explored the Yosemite Valley

______ Muir moved from Scotland to Wisconsin.

______ Congress set up two national parks.

Answer Key 

1. A 

2. C 

3. B 

 ___2___ Muir explored the Yosemite Valley 

 ___1___ Muir moved from Scotland to Wisconsin. 

 ___3___ Congress set up two national parks.