First Next Then Last Graphic Organizer Worksheet
This first next then last graphic organizer worksheet gives 3rd graders four labeled boxes to retell any story or process in order. A flexible, reusable page for stronger sequencing and clearer writing.
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About this resource
Description
Retelling events in the right order is a core reading and writing skill, and this first next then last graphic organizer worksheet gives third graders a simple structure for doing it. After reading a story or learning about a process, students capture the topic and then break it into four clear stages — first, next, then, and last. Laying the steps out in order helps children see how one event leads to another and makes their retellings clearer and more complete.
This sequencing graphic organizer worksheet is designed to be flexible. A topic or title line sits at the top, followed by four roomy boxes labeled First, Next, Then, and Last, each numbered so the order is easy to follow. Students write or draw what happened at each stage in their own words. Use it with a read-aloud, an independent reading book, a science or social studies lesson, or a how-to activity such as making a sandwich or planting a seed.
What’s Included
- 1 print-ready PDF worksheet
- A topic or title line
- Four numbered sequencing boxes: First, Next, Then, and Last
Teachers keep this first next then last graphic organizer worksheet on hand for three reasons. First, the numbered boxes give young writers a visual roadmap, so even reluctant students know exactly where to begin. Second, because children fill it in with their own reading or experiences, the same page works for countless stories and lessons throughout the year. Third, the open writing space lets students practice sentences, sequencing words, and neat handwriting all at once, turning a quick retell into meaningful writing practice.
To extend the activity, invite students to circle the sequencing words — first, next, then, and last — in their finished writing, or to swap papers and retell a partner’s steps aloud. Families can use the organizer after reading a bedtime story or finishing an everyday routine, like getting ready for school. You can also turn it into a speaking activity by having children act out each stage in order before they write.
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