Cause and Effect 3rd Grade Unit

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Lessons & Units

Cause and Effect 3rd Grade Unit

Lessons

Lesson 1: Cause and Effect Signal Words Use signal words (if, then, because, since, so, before, after) to show cause-and-effect relationships.

When I Grow Up...

Lesson 2: Implicit Effects Describe implicit effects when given a cause.

Two Ways to Count to Ten: A Liberian Folk Tale

Lesson 3: Implicit Cause and Effect Relationships Identify implicit cause-and-effect relationships in nonfiction.

The Planets

Unit Extension Ideas

During read alouds, discuss how one cause can lead to several effects, several causes can result in one effect, or there can be multiple causes and effects in a story (chain of events).

In literature groups, discuss how a story would change if another possible effect had resulted from a cause in the book.

Using a book from literature groups, create a cause-and-effect poster, using signal words. Students can list signal words and include illustrations on the poster.

Using a fiction and a nonfiction book from literature groups, have students list the signal words in each book. Have students use the words to write five fictional sentences and five nonfictional sentences. (See Additional Activity A worksheet in Teacher and Student Materials below.)

Students can write several effects for one cause, such as, “If you don’t go to bed on time you will be tired, you will oversleep, and you will get in trouble.”

Students can write a cause-and-effect story (fiction or nonfiction) using the following signal words: because, if, then, since, so, causes. After students write their stories, have them exchange with a partner. The partner should identify the signal words and the causes and effects in the story.

Discuss cause-and-effect relationships in a specific kind of nonfiction writing-- current events. These relationships should be both explicit and implicit. Examples could include a war, a hurricane, a fire, or other natural disasters.

Students can highlight the signal words in newspaper articles or reading passages available on the UEE website. Pair students with partners to discuss the signal words and the causes and effects in the article they read.

Teacher and Student Materials Get All

More Books for Teaching Cause and Effect

Lisa in the Jungle

Lisa in the Jungle

Muggie Maggie

Fountas and Pinnell: O
Lexile: 810L

Where Does the Mail Go? A Book about the Postal System

Who Eats What: Food Chains and Webs

Fountas and Pinnell: P
Lexile: 620L

Let's Read About…Ruby Bridges

Fountas and Pinnell: H
Lexile: 420L

Let's Read About…Rosa Parks

User Comments

What an excellent web site with common core alignment! Thank you so much for sharing all your plans and activities.

Submitted by Melinda Myers on 2/22/13

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I love this web site.....so easy to use.....laid out really well.....

Submitted by Peggy V. Karl on 11/25/12

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Unit Reading Passages

Teaching with the Unit Reading Passages

The most effective way to use the unit reading passages is through the Textual Analysis process.