A Balloon Grows
A Balloon Grows: a free 3-scene sequencing and coloring worksheet for ages 4–7, with picture clues, answers and a storytelling question.
- 👶 Age
- Ages 4–7
- ⭐ Difficulty
- Easy
- ⏱️ Time
- 10–20 minutes
- 🔢 Collection
- Sequence & Color
- 🎯 Theme
- A Balloon Grows
About this activity
A limp balloon, a balloon on a pump and a tied balloon show how air changes its shape. Compare its size and whether it is still attached to the pump.
Skills this page builds
- Putting events in orderThe balloon grows during pumping; the knot and string mark the finished balloon.
- Noticing changesCompare the same objects at different stages instead of guessing from their position on the page.
- Telling a short storyLink the pictures with first, next and finally while explaining your choices.
How to do this activity
- Print the sheet. Look at all 3 pictures and describe what is different in each one.
- Find the beginning, then decide what happens next and last. Use the changes in the pictures as clues.
- Write 1 to 3 in the empty boxes to show the time order. A younger child can point to the pictures while an adult writes.
- Open the answers below when you are ready to check. Explain your choices together.
- Color the pictures and tell the story using first, next and finally.
Tips for parents and teachers
- Trace each balloon outline with a finger and compare the sizes. An adult can demonstrate the pump while the child describes what changes.
- For a first try, identify the beginning and ending together, then place the middle scene or scenes.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need to cut out the pictures?
No. The empty boxes let children number the pictures on the sheet. Pointing and explaining also works without scissors or writing.
Do the printed positions show the answer?
No. The pictures are deliberately mixed up. The number in each box records when that scene happens, not its position on the paper.
Tell the story together
How does the balloon change as more air goes inside?
Answers for parents and teachers
Numbers to write in the boxes, from top to bottom:
3 · 1 · 2
The story in time order
- Start with the limp balloon beside the pump.
- Use the pump to put air into the balloon.
- Tie the inflated balloon and add its string.
The balloon grows during pumping; the knot and string mark the finished balloon.