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English lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes

Cause and effect: why did it happen?

Reading Comprehension

CCSS RI.2.3CCSS RL.2.3England: Y2 ReadingEngland: KS1 SATs Reading

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Cause and effect: why did it happen?.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Key details

Leads to: Cause and effect in texts: since, as a result, therefore

Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Key details). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Rosa's class went to the zoo. They saw a tall giraffe eating leaves. What was the giraffe eating? (bananas / leaves / grass / fish) → leavesPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.
  2. Owls sleep in the day. At night they wake up and hunt for mice. When do owls hunt? (after lunch / in the morning / at night / in the day) → at nightPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.
  3. A camel can walk for days in the hot desert. It stores fat in its hump. What does a camel store in its hump? (water / food bags / sand / fat) → fatPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.

Hook · 3 min

  • Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
  • Share the objective: Cause and effect: why did it happen?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: The library got lots of new books, so more children started visiting after school. What happened because the library got new books?
  • Step 1: Find the event, then look for what made it happen (cause) or what it led to (effect).
  • Step 2: So the answer is: More children visited.
  • Answer: More children visited.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. It snowed heavily overnight. The next morning, the roads were closed and school was cancelled. Why was school cancelled? (It snowed heavily. / The teacher was ill. / The bus broke down. / It was a holiday.) → It snowed heavily.Prompt: A cause is WHY something happens. An effect is WHAT happens.
  2. Choose the word that links the cause and the effect. The alarm didn't ring, ___ I woke up late. (but / because / so / or) → soPrompt: A cause is WHY something happens. An effect is WHAT happens.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Nina's tablet ran out of battery because she left it on all night. Why did the tablet run out of battery? (It got wet. / She left it on all night. / It was broken. / Her brother used it.) → She left it on all night.Prompt: A cause is WHY something happens. An effect is WHAT happens.
  2. Choose the word that links the cause and the effect. The dog was muddy, ___ we gave it a bath. (or / because / but / so) → soPrompt: A cause is WHY something happens. An effect is WHAT happens.

Watch out for

  • Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
  • Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Key details.
  • Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Cause and effect in texts: since, as a result, therefore.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-2.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Cause and effect: why did it happen?

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Jada forgot to water her sunflower for two weeks, so its leaves went brown and droopy. Why did the leaves go brown?

    • A. It got too much water.
    • B. It was too sunny.
    • C. A rabbit ate it.
    • D. Jada forgot to water it.

  2. Question 2

    Choose the word that links the cause and the effect. I was thirsty, ___ I drank some water.

    • A. because
    • B. or
    • C. so
    • D. but

  3. Question 3

    It snowed heavily overnight. The next morning, the roads were closed and school was cancelled. Why was school cancelled?

    • A. The bus broke down.
    • B. The teacher was ill.
    • C. It snowed heavily.
    • D. It was a holiday.

  4. Question 4

    Choose the word that links the cause and the effect. The plant grew tall ___ it had lots of light.

    • A. because
    • B. but
    • C. or
    • D. so

  5. Question 5

    The library got lots of new books, so more children started visiting after school. What happened because the library got new books?

    • A. The books were lost.
    • B. Children stopped reading.
    • C. The library closed.
    • D. More children visited.

  6. Question 6

    Choose the word that links the cause and the effect. The dog was muddy, ___ we gave it a bath.

    • A. but
    • B. because
    • C. or
    • D. so

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Answer key: Cause and effect: why did it happen?

  1. 1. D. Jada forgot to water it.

  2. 2. C. so

  3. 3. C. It snowed heavily.

  4. 4. A. because

  5. 5. D. More children visited.

  6. 6. D. so