The Missing Step

This worksheet helps students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 strengthen procedural reading and writing skills by analyzing a flawed how-to paragraph about making trail mix. Students identify a missing step, explain why it is necessary, and then rewrite the full paragraph using correct sequencing and clear transition words, reinforcing logic, completeness, and coherence in instructional writing.

Learning Goals

• Identifying Missing Information (Grades 4-6) – Detect gaps in a procedural text that prevent the task from being completed correctly.
• Sequencing and Logical Reasoning – Analyze what must logically happen before or after each step.
• Revising Procedural Texts – Rewrite a how-to paragraph to improve accuracy, order, and clarity.
• Paragraph Coherence – Use sequence words to ensure the final paragraph flows smoothly and makes sense.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to target common procedural writing errors.
• Close Reading Focus – Encourages careful analysis of steps rather than surface-level reading.
• Revision-Based Writing Practice – Moves students from evaluation to polished rewriting.
• Flexible Classroom Use – Works well for writing workshops, small groups, independent practice, or assessment.

This printable worksheet helps students understand that effective procedural writing must be complete, logical, and clearly ordered. By identifying a missing step and revising the entire paragraph, learners build confidence in sequencing, critical thinking, and instructional writing. It is a simple, no-prep resource for classroom and homeschool settings that strengthens clarity, coherence, and real-world how-to writing skills.

This worksheet is part of our How To Process Writing Worksheets collection.