Browse lesson plans

The Wish Giver: Cause and effect

Through a discussion of the characters in the novel The Wish Giver, by Bill Brittain, the teacher will teach the students to identify and analyze the cause/effect relationship and its importance in reading comprehension.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 English Language Arts)

By Becky Ellzey.

Cause and effect

Students will identify and interpret cause and effect as expressed in poetry.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 English Language Arts)

By Rochelle Mullis.

Cause and effect in the workplace

In CareerStart lessons: Grade six, page 1.10

This lesson for grade 6 will help students understand cause and effect and how these concepts apply to the workplace.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts and Guidance)

By Jennifer Brookshire and Julie McCann.

Cause and effect writing: What it looks like and who reads it

Students examine the causes and effects presented in a brochure called “Ozone: The Good and the Bad.” They also examine the language of the brochure with regard to audience appropriateness. Students then write their own brochures examine their classmates' brochures for cause and effect and for audience appropriateness.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts)

By Michelle Roberts.

Discovering how to take care of our natural resources

This lesson focuses on our natural resources and the effects our actions have on them. Students explore this concept through discussion, matching, literature, and writing.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 English Language Arts, English Language Development, and Social Studies)

By Jennifer Hicks and Alison Short.

Essays of definition: Lively writing through professional models

This lesson examines a professional model of a definition paper and asks students to analyze and imitate the structures of using anecdotes and cause and effect to elaborate an essay of definition.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts)

By Margaret Ryan.

Nature's checks and balances

This unit introduces students to several essential understandings. They will learn that plants and animals depend on one another for survival and organisms interact within nature to create a balance. They will also learn that humans can influence and manipulate nature.

Format: lesson plan (grade 5 English Language Arts and Science)

By Nicolette Heise.

Posing a scenario and "looping" to provide focus in a cause/effect essay

Most of us are familiar with the idea that in narratives a writer chooses a “hot spot” or critical incident to serve as the focus of the work. Teachers of expository writing also must assist students in finding the “hot spot” or focus of their essays. Use this exercise to help student focus on one aspect of the essay.

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–10 English Language Arts)

By Margaret Ryan.

Truth or care? Saving Shiloh

The students will be able to explain the importance of responsible citizenship and identify ways they can participate in civic affairs after reading the novel Shiloh and completing research of their own on animal abuse. Through this research, they will be responsible for gathering facts to support their stances on the dilemma Marty faces when deciding whether to return Shiloh to his owner or secretly keep him in order for him to be safe. Students will have real-world experience when they create and are reponsible for caring for their own pet.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 English Language Arts, English Language Development, Guidance, and Social Studies)

By Leah Shomaker and Mary Shomaker.

Resources on the web

Exploring cause and effect using expository texts about natural disasters

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... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink

Slipping, sliding, tumbling: Reinforcing cause and effect through diamante poems

This lesson introduces the concept of cause and effect through an activity where students construct their own diamante poems. After introducing the concept of cause and effect, the teacher engages students in a brainstorming activity to compile a list of... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 English Language Arts)

Provided by: ReadWriteThink