Lessons & Units :: Cause and Effect 2nd Grade Unit

Lesson 2: Causes

Lesson Plan

Why Do You Cry?: Not a Sob Story

Why Do You Cry?: Not a Sob Story
Learning Goal
Identify and describe explicit causes in fiction.
Duration
Approximately 50 minutes
Necessary Materials
Provided: Example Chart, Independent Practice Worksheet
Not Provided: Why Do You Cry?: Not a Sob Story by Kate Klise, chart paper, markers

  • Teacher Modeling

    will review the vocabulary, “cause and effect,” and explain the meaning of “cause” (person, event, or condition responsible for a result). I will model using the vocabulary, “cause and effect,” when identifying causes in Why Do You Cry?: Not a Sob Story by Kate Klise. As I read the story, I will chart the explicit causes and effects from the book, stopping after page 6. (Direct Teaching and Guided Practice Example Chart is provided in Teacher and Student Materials below.)

  • Think Check

    Ask: How did I identify the causes in the story? Students should respond that you looked at events from the story and thought about why they happened or what caused them to happen.

  • Guided Practice

    will work together to use the vocabulary, “cause and effect,” to identify, chart, and describe the explicit causes from the middle of Why Do You Cry?: Not a Sob Story, stopping at page 14. (The teacher will identify the effects and work with the class to chart the causes. Direct Teaching and Guided Practice Example Chart is provided below.)

    TIP: Encourage students to predict the causes of each effect in the story before charting explicit examples. Ask them to explain how they know--did they use the pictures and the text as evidence?

  • Independent Practice

    will listen as the teacher reads and identifies the effects in the rest of Why Do You Cry?: Not a Sob Story. You will identify the causes for each of the effects that were identified by the teacher. (Student Independent Practice is provided below.)

Build Student Vocabulary decision

Tier 2 Word: decision
Contextualize the word as it is used in the story When it was the rabbit’s birthday, he made a decision that he would not cry anymore.
Explain the meaning student-friendly definition) A decision is when somebody makes a choice, or makes up his/her mind about something. When the rabbit made a decision, it means that he chose not cry anymore.
Students repeat the word Say the word decision with me: decision.
Teacher gives examples of the word in other contexts The school principal made a decision that all kids should go to music class. I made a decision to wear a blue shirt today.
Students provide examples Think of a decision that you have made. Start by saying “Once I made a decision to _____________.”
Students repeat the word again. What word are we talking about? decision
Additional Vocabulary Words reason, explained

Build Student Background Knowledge

After reading the book, share with students another reason why people cry that is not in the book— they are cutting onions. When you cut an onion, it releases oil that can get in your eye and irritate or bother your tear glands. That will produce tears, so you are crying, even if you are not sad. Tell students that they can help their family and friends avoid crying while cutting an onion, by advising them to cut an onion under water, so the oils wash away.

Texts & Materials

Standards Alignment

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