Lessons & Units

Cause and Effect 1st Grade Unit

Lessons

Lesson 1 Effects Identify effects when given a cause in fiction.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Lesson 2 Causes Identify causes when given an effect in fiction.
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
Lesson 3 Cause and Effect Relationships Identify explicit causes and effects in fiction.
The Gunniwolf
The Gunniwolf

Unit Extension Ideas

  • Discuss how one cause can lead to several effects or several causes can result in one effect in a read aloud book of your choice. Record causes and effects in the Chain of Events Graphic Organizer. (See Additional Activities Chart A in Teacher and Student Materials below.)
  • If Predicting has been introduced, students can make predictions about effects in read alouds. As a class, make a list of causes and possible effects and check them as you read. Any of the books by Laura Joffe Numeroff are suitable for this activity. (See the Additional Book List for suggested titles.)
  • Students can write and illustrate causes or effects of everyday life (the glass is too close to the edge of the table; you call your friend a name; you give your mom flowers). Have students use a Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer when writing. (See Additional Activities Chart B in Teacher and Student Materials below.)
  • Students can write an answer to cause-and-effect prompts such as, “I ate too much candy so______,” or “I tripped in the classroom because________.”
  • As a class, rewrite a story on chart paper with a different cause and effect. For instance, rewrite If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, changing the first effect. Reread the story chorally, and discuss the new causes and effects.

Teacher and Student Materials

More Books for Teaching Cause and Effect

The Three Little Pigs

The Three Little Pigs

Fountas and Pinnell
I
Lexile
200L
If You Take a Mouse to School

If You Take a Mouse to School

Lexile
190L
If You Give a Pig a Pancake

If You Give a Pig a Pancake

Lexile
570L
I'm Not Going to Chase the Cat Today

I'm Not Going to Chase the Cat Today

Lexile
240L
The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Fountas and Pinnell
J
Lexile
460L
Rosie's Walk

Rosie's Walk

Fountas and Pinnell
F
Lexile
NP
The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash

Fountas and Pinnell
K
Lexile
540L
Clifford the Big Red Dog: Tummy Trouble

Clifford the Big Red Dog: Tummy Trouble

Fountas and Pinnell
J
Lexile
220L
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Fountas and Pinnell
E
Lexile
310L
The Snowy Day

The Snowy Day

Fountas and Pinnell
J
Lexile
500L

User Comments

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Submitted by Christopher Peter on 5/17/14

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Submitted by Alison on 5/26/12

THe Runaway Bunny is a great book for this lesson. Thanks for sharing!

Submitted by Laura Serra on 4/30/12