LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Exploring cause and effect using expository texts about natural disasters

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=925

A lesson plan for grades 3–5 English Language Arts

Learn more

Help

Please read our disclaimer for lesson plans.

Legal

Students explore cause and effect relationships in this lesson that focuses on expository texts. In the first session, the teacher activates prior knowledge about cause and effect by presenting students with everyday situations and engaging students in discussion. Then, the teacher demonstrates how to use a cause and effect graphic organizer during a read-aloud of Danger! Volcanoes by Seymour Simon. Once students recognize key words that signal a cause and effect relationship, they work in small groups to read different example expository texts about natural disasters. During the initial reading, students focus on cause and effect relationships they encounter in the texts. Then, students read the text again and complete a web showing the cause and effect relationships. After students have completed their graphic organizers, they discuss their findings. Finally, the teacher demonstrates how to write a paragraph using a sample paragraph and a rubric. Students should use the information on their graphic organizers to write clear paragraphs that include information about at least three cause and effect relationships from their expository text. Readwritethink provides links to online interactive webbing tools, graphic organizers, a rubric and a booklist of texts on natural disasters.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.04: Identify and interpret elements of fiction and nonfiction and support by referencing the text to determine the:
      • author's purpose.
      • plot.
      • conflict.
      • sequence.
      • resolution.
      • lesson and/or message.
      • main idea and supporting details.
      • cause and effect.
      • fact and opinion.
      • point of view (author and character).
      • author's use of figurative language (e.g., simile, metaphor, imagery).
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.04: Use planning strategies (with assistance) to generate topics and to organize ideas (e.g., drawing, mapping, discussing, listing).
    • Objective 4.06: Compose a draft that conveys major ideas and maintains focus on the topic by using preliminary plans.

Grade 4

  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.04: Share self-selected texts from a variety of genres (e.g., poetry, letters, narratives, essays, presentations).
    • Objective 4.06: Compose a draft that conveys major ideas and maintains focus on the topic with specific, relevant, supporting details by using preliminary plans.

Grade 5

  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.05: Use a variety of preliminary strategies to plan and organize the writing and speaking task considering purpose, audience, and timeline.
    • Objective 4.06: Compose a draft that elaborates on major ideas and adheres to the topic by using an appropriate organizational pattern that accomplishes the purpose of the writing task and effectively communicates its content.