Let's solve each set of words by arranging them in
alphabetical order. We'll go step by step, comparing the first letter of each word, and if they are the same, we move to the next letter.
---
1. Bible, hot cross bun, sunny, lily
- First letters: B, h, s, l
- Alphabetical order:
Bible,
lily,
hot cross bun,
sunny
> But wait — "hot cross bun" starts with 'h', which comes before 'l' and 's'.
> So:
Bible,
hot cross bun,
lily,
sunny
✔ Answer: Bible, hot cross bun, lily, sunny
---
2. garden, egg, rain, celebrate
- First letters: g, e, r, c
- Order: c, e, g, r →
celebrate,
egg,
garden,
rain
✔ Answer: celebrate, egg, garden, rain
---
3. tulip, candy, April, hen
- First letters: t, c, A, h
- Note: "April" starts with a capital 'A', but in alphabetical order, we treat it as lowercase 'a'.
- So: A (April), c (candy), h (hen), t (tulip)
✔ Answer: April, candy, hen, tulip
---
4. Easter, cross, ladybug, grass
- First letters: E, c, l, g
- Order: c, E, g, l →
cross,
Easter,
grass,
ladybug
✔ Answer: cross, Easter, grass, ladybug
---
5. daffodil, flowers, butterfly, lamb
- First letters: d, f, b, l
- Order: b, d, f, l →
butterfly,
daffodil,
flowers,
lamb
✔ Answer: butterfly, daffodil, flowers, lamb
---
6. nest, crucifixion, bonnet, spring
- First letters: n, c, b, s
- Order: b, c, n, s →
bonnet,
crucifixion,
nest,
spring
✔ Answer: bonnet, crucifixion, nest, spring
---
7. basket, decorate, pattern, chick
- First letters: b, d, p, c
- Order: b, c, d, p →
basket,
chick,
decorate,
pattern
✔ Answer: basket, chick, decorate, pattern
---
8. chocolate, Sunday, crown, cake
- First letters: c, S, c, c
- All start with 'c' or 'S'
- 'S' comes after 'c', so:
cake,
chocolate,
crown,
Sunday
> Wait: 'Sunday' starts with 'S', so it goes last.
> Among the 'c' words: cake, chocolate, crown
> Compare second letters:
> - cake → a
> - chocolate → h
> - crown → r
> So:
cake,
chocolate,
crown,
Sunday
✔ Answer: cake, chocolate, crown, Sunday
---
9. duckling, bunny, jellybeans, church
- First letters: d, b, j, c
- Order: b, c, d, j →
bunny,
church,
duckling,
jellybeans
✔ Answer: bunny, church, duckling, jellybeans
---
10. resurrection, cupcake, painting, bee
- First letters: r, c, p, b
- Order: b, c, p, r →
bee,
cupcake,
painting,
resurrection
✔ Answer: bee, cupcake, painting, resurrection
---
✔ Final Answers:
1.
Bible, hot cross bun, lily, sunny
2.
celebrate, egg, garden, rain
3.
April, candy, hen, tulip
4.
cross, Easter, grass, ladybug
5.
butterfly, daffodil, flowers, lamb
6.
bonnet, crucifixion, nest, spring
7.
basket, chick, decorate, pattern
8.
cake, chocolate, crown, Sunday
9.
bunny, church, duckling, jellybeans
10.
bee, cupcake, painting, resurrection
---
📝 Explanation:
To arrange words alphabetically:
- Start by looking at the
first letter of each word.
- If two words have the same first letter, compare the
second letter, then third, etc.
- Ignore case when comparing (e.g., "April" is treated like "april").
- Words starting with earlier letters in the alphabet come first.
This exercise helps build vocabulary and understanding of dictionary order, useful for reading, writing, and research.
Let me know if you'd like this formatted as a printable answer key!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of alphabetical order worksheet 3rd grade.
