Lesson Plans
Day 1 – Whole Group and then Small Group:
Whole Group:
1. TTW lead the students through the Smartboard lesson reviewing cause and effect relationships.
The focus of this lesson is for students to recognize signal words and
cause and effect relationships.
Small Group: The students will divide evenly into groups with the teachers in the room. This will be
approximately 5 students per teacher.
2. The students will read the passage, “A Second Chance for Chris” independently.
a. Remind the students that a cause is the reason something happened. It answers “Why did this
happen?”
b. The effect is the result. It answers the question “What happened?”
3. Next, the students will go through and highlight all of the signal words/phrases.
Common signal words/phrases
Because of
Why
Caused
Since
Due to
As a result
4. The students will work with a partner and put the cause and effect questions where they go.
“A Second Chance for Chris” – Graphic Organizer Answer Key
Cause
George wasn’t looking where he was going.
Chris didn’t have a high school diploma.
Chris failed three academic classes.
Chris said, “sorry”.
Chris wanted to get promoted.
Chris thought that if he were going to work that
hard, he should be learning something that would
get him the job.
He failed three academic classes last year.
George wanted to go to college, and he needed to
pass his math class to do so.
Effect
George caused Chris to lose his balance and stumble.
Chris had to work twice as hard. He got the worst
assignments.
He dropped out of high school.
George recognized the voice and figured out who it
was.
He worked harder than everyone else.
Chris went back to school.
Chris dropped out of school.
George made the effort to retake his math class.
Day 2 – Small Group:
Independent work:
1. The students will be given a reading passage called “Arctic Shortcut Sparks Worry”. They
will read the passage independently.
2. The students will highlight the signal words as they read.
3. Remind the students to also keep in mind the following questions as they read, “What
caused the shortcut to come about? What effects is this shortcut having?
4. Next, the students will answer the brief questions on their paper and complete the graphic
organizer.
Small Group: The students will divide evenly into groups with the teachers in the room.
5. Once everyone in the group has completed the activity, the students will check their
answers as a small group with their teacher. The teacher will troubleshoot any problems
the students may be having.
Paragraph 1: 1. Why do people like shortcuts?
Shortcuts get you where you’re going faster.
Paragraph 2: 2. Why was it hard for sailors to travel east-to-west through Arctic waters?
Frozen waters blocked the way.
3. Which word signals this cause-and-effect relationship?
Because
Paragraph 3: 4. What has caused the temperature in the Arctic to increase?
Global warming
5. Which phrase signals this cause-and-effect relationship?
Due to
6. Why is the Northwest Passage now open?
The Arctic ice cover has started to melt.
7. Which phrase signals this cause-and-effect relationship?
As a result
Paragraph 4: 8. What effect could a collision between a ship and an iceberg have?
It can result in an oil spill.
9. Which word signals this cause-and-effect relationship?
Result
“Arctic Shortcut Sparks Worry” – Graphic Organizer Answer Key
Cause
Effect
Frozen waters blocked the Arctic
Few sailors were able to travel through Arctic waters.
Global warming has increased the temperature in the Arctic ice has started to melt.
Arctic
Arctic ice has started to melt.
The Northwest Passage is open to many types of ships.
“A Second Chance for Chris”
Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer
Directions:
1. Read the story, “A Second Chance for Chris”.
2. Highlight the signal words.
3. Complete the graphic organizer by matching causes with effects and placing them in the correct
column.
Cause
Effect
Cause
Effect
George wasn’t looking where he was
going.
George caused Chris to lose his balance
and stumble.
Chris didn’t have a high school
diploma.
Chris had to work twice as hard. He
got the worst assignments.
Chris failed three academic classes.
He dropped out of high school.
Chris said, “sorry”.
George recognized the voice and
figured out who it was.
Chris wanted to get promoted.
He worked harder than everyone else.
Chris thought that if he were going to
work that hard, he should be learning
something that would get him the job.
Chris went back to school.
He failed three academic classes last
year.
Chris dropped out of school.
George wanted to go to college, and he
needed to pass his math class to do so.
George made the effort to retake his
math class.
“Arctic Shortcut Sparks Worry”
Directions:
1. Read the ““Arctic Shortcut Sparks Worry”.
2. Answer the following questions:
a. Why do people like shortcuts?
b. Why was it hard for sailors to travel east-to-west through Arctic waters?
c. Which word signals this cause-and-effect relationship?
d. What has caused the temperature in the Arctic to increase?
e. Which phrase signals this cause-and-effect relationship?
f. Why is the Northwest Passage now open?
g. Which phrase signals this cause-and-effect relationship?
h. What effect could a collision between a ship and an iceberg have?
i.
Which word signals this cause-and-effect relationship?
3. Now complete the graphic organizer.
Cause
Effect