English Language Arts
Grade 3
15 min
Match causes with their effects
Match causes with their effects
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define 'cause' and 'effect' in their own words.
Identify the cause (the 'why') in a simple sentence or short paragraph.
Identify the effect (the 'what happened') in a simple sentence or short paragraph.
Match a given cause to its correct effect from a list of options.
Use signal words like 'because', 'so', and 'since' to understand cause and effect relationships.
If you plant a seed and water it, what happens? 🌱 A flower grows! Let's learn about how one thing makes another thing happen.
In this lesson, we will learn about cause and effect. A cause is WHY something happens, and an effect is WHAT happens. Understanding this helps us understand stories better and figure out how things...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
CauseThe reason something happens. It is the 'why'.Cause: The sun was shining brightly.
EffectWhat happens because of the cause. It is the 'what happened'.Effect: The snowman melted.
RelationshipHow the cause and effect are connected. The cause makes the effect happen.The sun shining (cause) made the snowman melt (effect).
Signal WordsClue words that help you find the cause or the effect in a sentence.because, so, since, as a result, if...then...
MatchTo connect or pair two things that go together.We will match the cause with the effect that it creates.
3
Key Rules & Conventions
The 'Why' and 'What' Test
Ask yourself: 'Why did this happen?' The answer is the cause. Ask yourself: 'What happened?' The answer is the effect.
Use these two questions to check if you have correctly identified the cause and the effect in a sentence or story.
Look for Signal Words
Words like 'because', 'since', and 'if' often point to the cause. Words like 'so', 'then', and 'as a result' often point to the effect.
These words are clues left by the author to help you connect the cause and effect.
The Cause Happens First
The cause always happens before the effect in time, even if it is written second in the sentence.
Remember that you can't have an effect without a...
4 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
In the morning, the grass was wet. There were puddles on the street, and a rainbow was in the sky. The air smelled fresh and clean. What is the most likely cause of all these effects?
A.It rained during the night
B.Someone watered all the lawns
C.fire truck sprayed the street
D.It was a very sunny day
Challenging
Four children are at a party. Which child's action is the CAUSE of an unhappy EFFECT?
A.Maria shared her piece of cake with a friend
B.Ben popped a balloon right next to his sister's ear
C.Chloe helped clean up the wrapping paper
D.David said 'thank you' for his gift
Challenging
A city decided to plant hundreds of new trees along its streets. What is a possible long-term effect of this action?
A.The streets will get wider
B.There will be fewer cars
C.The streets will have more shade in the summer
D.The buildings will get taller
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing Free