Language Arts: Cause and Effect
Identifying reasons events happen and what happens next
Language Arts: Cause and Effect
Identifying reasons events happen and what happens next
Language Arts - Grade 4-5
- 1
Sentence: Maya forgot her umbrella, so she got wet walking home. What is the cause and what is the effect?
The cause is why something happened. The effect is what happened because of it.
The cause is that Maya forgot her umbrella. The effect is that she got wet walking home. - 2
Sentence: The power went out during the storm, and the house became dark. What caused the house to become dark?
The house became dark because the power went out during the storm. - 3
Sentence: Liam studied for his spelling test every night, so he earned a high score. What effect happened because Liam studied?
Look for the event that happened after the studying.
The effect was that Liam earned a high score on his spelling test. - 4
Sentence: The dog barked loudly, so the baby woke up from her nap. Write the cause and the effect.
The cause is that the dog barked loudly. The effect is that the baby woke up from her nap. - 5
Sentence: Because Nora watered the plant every day, it grew tall and healthy. What is the cause?
The word because often introduces the cause.
The cause is that Nora watered the plant every day. - 6
Sentence: The sidewalk was icy, so Owen walked slowly to school. What effect happened because the sidewalk was icy?
The effect was that Owen walked slowly to school. - 7
Read the situation: A class left crayons on the floor. Later, someone stepped on them and they broke. What was the cause of the broken crayons?
Think about the event that started the chain of events.
The cause of the broken crayons was that the class left the crayons on the floor, and someone stepped on them. - 8
Read the situation: Sofia set her alarm clock, so she woke up on time for the field trip. What effect happened because Sofia set her alarm clock?
The effect was that Sofia woke up on time for the field trip. - 9
Read the situation: Ben did not pack his lunch, so he had to buy food in the cafeteria. What caused Ben to buy food in the cafeteria?
Find the reason for Ben's action.
Ben had to buy food in the cafeteria because he did not pack his lunch. - 10
Read the situation: The library was closed for cleaning, so the students returned their books the next day. Identify the cause and the effect.
The cause is that the library was closed for cleaning. The effect is that the students returned their books the next day. - 11
Sentence: Since the team practiced passing every afternoon, they played their best game of the season. What happened as an effect of practicing?
The effect is the result that came after the practice.
The effect of practicing was that the team played their best game of the season. - 12
Sentence: Ella was hungry because she skipped breakfast. What was the cause of Ella being hungry?
The cause of Ella being hungry was that she skipped breakfast. - 13
Read the situation: A truck blocked the road, so traffic moved very slowly. What was the effect of the truck blocking the road?
Look for what happened after the road was blocked.
The effect was that traffic moved very slowly. - 14
Read the situation: Jayden finished his homework early, so he had time to play outside before dinner. Write the cause and the effect.
The cause is that Jayden finished his homework early. The effect is that he had time to play outside before dinner. - 15
Write your own sentence that shows a clear cause and effect relationship. Then label the cause and the effect.
Use signal words like because, so, or since.
Answers will vary. A correct response will include a sentence with a clear cause and effect relationship and labels for both parts, such as: The rain started, so the game was canceled. The cause is that the rain started. The effect is that the game was canceled.