About Story Sequence Adventure
Story Sequence Adventure practises something good readers do without noticing: keeping track of what happens in a story. Each story is short, original and read aloud, with the words highlighted as they're spoken. Children put picture cards in order — first, next, last — and in the final stage answer questions about who, what, where and when. The stories grow a little longer at each stage.
What children learn
- Listen to a short story and remember its main events
- Put events in order using first, next, then and last
- Use cause and effect to reason about order (a seed is planted before it grows)
- Answer who, what, where, when and how-many questions about a story
- Follow printed words while they are read aloud
Tips for parents
- After any bedtime story, ask your child to retell it with “first, next, last” — the same skill, no screen needed.
- When the order is wrong, ask “Could that happen before this?” rather than pointing to the right card.
- Let confident readers turn the sound off and read the story themselves.
- Everyday routines are great sequencing practice: getting dressed, making toast, planting seeds.
- Looking back at the story to answer a question isn't cheating — it's what good readers do.
Want more ideas? Our guide Beginning, Middle and End: Helping Young Children Really Understand Stories explains the skill in depth, with activities to try at home.
Tips for teachers
- Use a four-part story as a model before pupils draw their own four-box story.
- Read-along highlighting helps emerging readers track print from left to right.
- Practises Common Core RL.K.1 (answer questions about key details) and RL.K.2 / RL.1.2 (retell stories, including key details).
- The stories are original, so pupils can't rely on already knowing them.
Story Sequence Adventure FAQ
What is story sequencing?
Putting the events of a story in the order they happened. It shows a child understood the story rather than just heard it, and it's a building block for retelling and, later, writing.
What age is Story Sequence Adventure for?
Ages 5 to 8 — kindergarten to second grade. Non-readers play with the read-aloud; newer readers can follow the highlighted words.
Does my child need to be able to read?
No. Every story and question is read aloud, and the answer cards use pictures. Children who can read are encouraged to read along.
How many stories are there?
Six original stories: two three-part stories, two four-part stories and two longer stories with questions.
Does the read-aloud voice sound the same everywhere?
No. The game uses the voice built into your browser, so it sounds a little different on a phone, a tablet and a computer. If your child prefers, switch sound off and read the story together instead.
What happens when a card is in the wrong place?
Each card is checked as it's placed. A card that's out of order wiggles back, and the game asks what happened just before, so your child can think it through and try again. It works as a hint, not a fail.