Build Mastery: Cause and Effect
From FreeReading
| Lesson Type: | Build Mastery |
| Grade: | K, 1, 2, 3 |
| Group Size: | Individual, Pair, Small Group |
| Length: | 15 minutes |
| Goal: | Given a text, students will read it on their own and be able to identify the most important cause and effect in it. |
Materials: Fiction or non-fiction leveled readers, copies of the C-E Organizer (print here) for each student
What to Do
Prepare
Make copies of the C-E Organizer for each student. Make a large version of the C-E Organizer on the board or chart paper.
Model/Instruct
1. Explain the lesson.
Today we will apply what we have learned about identifying causes and effects. You will choose a leveled reader and complete a C-E chart while you read.
2. Review how to complete the C-E Organizer.
You will read your book. You will think about the most important effect in your book and then the most important cause for that effect. You will write the cause in the C and the effect in the E on your graphic organizer. Remember to write the title of your book at the top.
Practice
3. Students read the book and complete the C-E Organizer.
4. Make sure that each student has chosen an appropriate leveled book and monitor their completion of the graphic organizer.
5. Discuss how using the C-E Organizer can help your students think about causes and effects in their reading.
Ask students questions like:
Now that you have thought about the causes and effects, what have you learned about the plot/characters?
Were there a lot of causes and effects in your book? How did you determine the most important?
How do the causes and effects help you understand the book?
Adjust
For Advanced Students:
Ask these students to write down more than one cause on the “C” if appropriate for their book.
For Struggling Students:
These students may need help determining the most important effect and its most important cause. Encourage them to choose one from the book and then pair them with other students who read the same book and ask them to share their thoughts about the most important effect and its causes with a partner.
For ELL Students:
These students may need help understanding key vocabulary from their book. Remind them to look for the key words (because, so, if, then, as a result) to help find the causes and effects.
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