Cause and Effect Created By: Kari Raymer

What is a cause? A cause is an event or action that makes something happen.A cause is an event or action that makes something happen. Example: It started to rain, which caused the kids to open their umbrellas.Example: It started to rain, which caused the kids to open their umbrellas.

What is an effect? An effect is what happens as a result of an event or action.An effect is what happens as a result of an event or action. Example: It started to rain, which caused the kids to open their umbrellas.Example: It started to rain, which caused the kids to open their umbrellas.

How do you identify cause and effect? All you need to do is ask yourself two important questions:All you need to do is ask yourself two important questions: –“Why?” to find the cause –“What happened?” to find the effect

Let’s Practice! The boy tripped during his race because his shoelaces came untied.The boy tripped during his race because his shoelaces came untied. –What is the EFFECT? (“What happened?”)

Let’s Practice! The boy tripped during his race because his shoelaces came untied.The boy tripped during his race because his shoelaces came untied. –EFFECT: The boy tripped during his race

Let’s Practice! The boy tripped during his race because his shoelaces came untied.The boy tripped during his race because his shoelaces came untied. –EFFECT: The boy tripped during his race –What is the CAUSE? (“Why?”)

Let’s Practice! The boy tripped during his race because his shoelaces came untied.The boy tripped during his race because his shoelaces came untied. –EFFECT: The boy tripped during his race –CAUSE: His shoelaces came untied

Let’s try another one! It was very hot, so Jane turned on the air conditioning.It was very hot, so Jane turned on the air conditioning. –What is the EFFECT? (“What happened?”)

Let’s try another one! It was very hot, so Jane turned on the air conditioning.It was very hot, so Jane turned on the air conditioning. –EFFECT: Jane turned on the air conditioning

Let’s try another one! It was very hot, so Jane turned on the air conditioning.It was very hot, so Jane turned on the air conditioning. –EFFECT: Jane turned on the air conditioning –What is the CAUSE? (“Why?”)

Let’s try another one! It was very hot, so Jane turned on the air conditioning.It was very hot, so Jane turned on the air conditioning. –EFFECT: Jane turned on the air conditioning –CAUSE: It was very hot

Explicit and Implicit Cause and Effect Explicit cause-and-effect relationships in a text are signaled by clue words and phrases such as:Explicit cause-and-effect relationships in a text are signaled by clue words and phrases such as: –“because” –“so” –“in order to” –“as a result”

Explicit and Implicit Cause and Effect Implicit cause-and-effect situations do not have signal words and you have to figure it out on your own:Implicit cause-and-effect situations do not have signal words and you have to figure it out on your own: –EXAMPLE: The boy cried when he stubbed his toe on the bed post. –There are no signal words, but we can still find the cause and effect!

Let’s try one more… Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #1? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #1? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #1? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #2? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #2? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #2? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #3? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #3? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #3? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #4? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #4? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #4? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #5? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #5? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #5? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #6? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #6? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Cause and Effect #6? Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.Miss Happy’s class was going on a field trip to the zoo, so all the students got on the school bus. Lucy sat with Miss Happy because she was nervous for the long bus ride. When the bus pulled up to the zoo, they got off the bus and followed Miss Happy into the zoo. Mark and Kim went to the penguin exhibit in order to see the baby penguins. Joe and Sasha love to play on the monkey bars at recess, so they went to see the orangutans. Raymond and Josh were hungry, so they bought a pretzel to split.

Why is cause and effect important? Understanding why things happen and what makes them happen helps the story make sense.Understanding why things happen and what makes them happen helps the story make sense.

Does this make sense? The girl smiled when her friend called her a mean name.The girl smiled when her friend called her a mean name.

Does this make sense? The girl smiled when her friend told her she was a good baseball player.The girl smiled when her friend told her she was a good baseball player.

Let’s Review! A cause is an event or action that makes something happen.A cause is an event or action that makes something happen. To find the cause you ask “why?”To find the cause you ask “why?” An effect is what happens as a result of an event or action.An effect is what happens as a result of an event or action. To find the effect you ask “what happened?”To find the effect you ask “what happened?”

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