Clue Word Hunt

This interactive reading comprehension worksheet helps students in Grades 2-4 strengthen sequencing, temporal awareness, and story structure understanding by focusing on order clue words. Using a passage about a school science fair, learners identify and highlight signal words such as first, next, and finally, then use those clues to answer questions and follow the logical progression of events in the text.

Skills Reinforced

• Sequence Signal Words (Grades 2-4) – Recognize and interpret temporal transition words that show order and time.
• Reading Comprehension through Clues – Use linguistic signals to understand what happens first, next, and last.
• Event Sequencing – Track and explain the correct order of events in a narrative passage.
• Organized Written Responses – Answer questions and summarize events using clear, organized thinking.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with early elementary ELA standards.
• Active Annotation Practice – Encourages students to highlight or underline key words for close reading.
• Flexible Classroom Use – Ideal for independent practice, small groups, literacy centers, or assessment.
• Supports Retelling Skills – Builds a strong foundation for accurate oral and written retelling.

This printable worksheet helps students become more aware of the language cues authors use to signal time and order. By identifying clue words and applying them to comprehension questions, learners improve sequencing, narrative understanding, and organized thinking. Perfect for classroom instruction or homeschool use, this no-prep activity provides meaningful practice that strengthens students’ ability to follow, understand, and retell stories with confidence.

This worksheet is part of our Chronological Order collection.