English Language Arts
Grade 3
15 min
Which sentence matches the definition?
Which sentence matches the definition?
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define 'cause' as the reason why something happens.
Define 'effect' as the result or what happened.
Identify the cause in a simple sentence.
Identify the effect in a simple sentence.
Match a given definition of 'cause' or 'effect' to the correct part of a sentence.
Recognize common signal words like 'because', 'so', and 'since'.
Explain the relationship between a cause and its effect.
Have you ever dropped a glass of milk and it spilled everywhere? 🤔 Let's learn about what makes things 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 stori...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
CauseThe reason WHY something happens. It is the first thing that happens.The girl tripped on a rock.
EffectThe result of the cause. It is WHAT happened because of the cause.She scraped her knee.
Signal WordsClue words that often connect a cause and an effect in a sentence.because, so, since, as a result, if...then
DefinitionA sentence that tells you the meaning of a word.The definition of 'cold' is 'having a low temperature'.
MatchTo find the thing that fits or goes with another thing.You match your left shoe with your right shoe.
RelationshipThe way that two things are connected to each other.The relationship between rain (cause) and a puddle (effect).
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Key Rules & Conventions
The 'Why' and 'What' Rule
Ask 'Why did it happen?' to find the CAUSE. Ask 'What happened?' to find the EFFECT.
Use these two questions to test the parts of a sentence. The answer to 'Why?' is the cause, and the answer to 'What?' is the effect.
The Signal Word Clue
Look for signal words like 'because', 'so', 'since', and 'as a result'.
These words are like signposts. The cause often comes after 'because' or 'since'. The effect often comes after 'so' or 'as a result'.
The Time Order Rule
The cause always happens before the effect in time.
Even if a sentence says, 'The window broke because I threw the ball,' the ball was t...
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Challenging
Which sentence matches this definition: The most likely cause is unstated and must be inferred from the effect.
A.The floor was sticky because my brother spilled juice.
B.The firefighters arrived at the house with their sirens on.
C.Since it was a holiday, the school was closed.
D.The cat purred when I petted it.
Challenging
Which sentence's definition is: A complex cause (more than one reason) leads to a single effect.
A.Because the alarm didn't go off and the bus was late, I missed the beginning of the movie.
B.I was late for the movie, so I missed the beginning.
C.The movie was very popular, so the theater was crowded.
D.The alarm didn't go off, and the bus was late.
Challenging
Which sentence correctly reorders the jumbled parts to make a logical cause-and-effect statement? Parts: [1] he won the spelling bee [2] because [3] practiced for weeks [4] David
A.Because David won the spelling bee, he practiced for weeks.
B.He practiced for weeks, because David won the spelling bee.
C.David won the spelling bee because he practiced for weeks.
D.David practiced for weeks, he won the spelling bee because.
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