Cause and Effect
- 3rd grade
- CCSS RI.3.3
- CCSS RI.3.8
- CCSS RL.3.3
A cause is why something happens. An effect is what happens. "It rained, so the game was canceled." The rain is the cause; the canceled game is the effect. Words like because, so and since are clues.
Why and what
Ask two questions. What happened? That's the effect. Why did it happen? That's the cause. The cause always happens first, even if the sentence mentions the effect first: "The game was canceled because it rained."
Causes and effects can form a chain: the alarm didn't go off, so Sam woke up late, so he missed the bus, so he was late for school. Each effect becomes the cause of the next thing. Stories, science and history are full of these chains.
Cause = why it happened (first).
Effect = what happened (next).
3rd graders describe cause-and-effect relationships in science and history texts (RI.3.3) and the logical links between sentences (RI.3.8), and explain how characters' actions lead to events (RL.3.3). Cause and effect is also one kind of text structure.
Cause and effect signal words
These words often connect a cause and an effect.
| Signal word | Example |
|---|---|
| because | The plant died because it didn't get water. |
| so | I was hungry, so I ate a snack. |
| since | Since it was cold, we wore coats. |
| as a result | The river flooded. As a result, roads closed. |
| if... then | If you drop the glass, then it will break. |
| due to | School closed due to snow. |
| therefore | He practiced daily. Therefore, he improved. |
After because, since and due to comes the cause. After so, as a result and therefore comes the effect.
Cause → effect
Each example shows a cause and its effect.
- Cause: It rained all day. Effect: The game was canceled.
- Cause: Ella forgot her lunch. Effect: She was hungry.
- Cause: The ice cream sat in the sun. Effect: It melted.
- Cause: Tom studied hard. Effect: He passed the test.
- Cause: The hare took a nap. Effect: The tortoise won.
- Cause: Bees carry pollen. Effect: Fruit can grow.
- Cause: The boy lied about the wolf. Effect: No one believed him later.
- Chain: no alarm → woke up late → missed the bus → late to school
- Effect first: "We stayed inside because it was snowing." Cause = snowing.
- One cause, many effects: a storm knocked down trees, closed roads and cut the power.
In example 9, the effect comes first in the sentence, but the snow still happened first in time.
How to teach cause and effect
Five short steps, about 10 minutes each.
- Real life first. Drop a ball: what's the cause? The effect?
- Ask why and what. What happened? Why?
- Find signal words. Underline because, so and since.
- Draw arrows. Cause → effect boxes.
- Build chains. If you give a mouse a cookie... what happens next?
Common mistakes and how to fix them
| Mistake | Why it happens | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Mixes up cause and effect | The sentence order tricks them. | Ask: which happened first? |
| Thinks every so-and-so is cause and effect | Two events can just be in order. | Ask: did one make the other happen? |
| Only finds signal-word pairs | Misses causes without clue words. | Ask why, even with no because. |
| Finds only one effect | Missing the chain. | Ask: and then what happened because of that? |
Practice: cause and effect quiz
10 questions. Your child can tap the speaker to hear a question read aloud. The first try on each question counts toward the score.
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1.What is a cause?
Show answer
Why something happens.
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2.What is an effect?
Show answer
What happens.
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3.It rained, so the game was canceled. What is the cause?
Show answer
It rained.
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4.The plant died because it had no water. What is the effect?
Show answer
The plant died.
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5.Tap the cause and effect signal word.
, .
Show answer
so.
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6.The ice cream sat in the sun. What is the effect?
Show answer
It melted.
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7.Which always happens first?
Show answer
The cause.
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8.Tap the signal word.
.
Show answer
because.
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9.In The Tortoise and the Hare, why did the tortoise win?
Show answer
The hare took a nap.
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10.What comes after because?
Show answer
The cause.
Cause and Effect worksheet (free PDF)
Cause and Effect Worksheet, 3rd grade
Read a short passage, fill in cause and effect boxes, match causes to effects and finish a cause-and-effect chain. Prints on US Letter paper, with an answer key.
Download the PDFTry it at home
- Why and what: ask about everyday events.
- Chain game: If you give a mouse a cookie...
- Science: what happens if we leave ice out?
- Signal words: because, so, as a result.
- Story talk: why did the character do that? What happened next?
What comes next
Next: fact and opinion. Earlier: character traits and sequencing. Later: text structure.
Practice with a game
Free, no sign-up, and they work on phones, tablets and computers.
Cause and Effect ConnectLast reviewed: November 11, 2026
Questions parents ask
What is cause and effect?
A cause is why something happens; an effect is what happens as a result.
What are cause and effect signal words?
because, so, since, as a result, if... then, due to and therefore.
What grade learns cause and effect?
3rd grade, in both stories and nonfiction (RI.3.3, RI.3.8, RL.3.3).
Does the cause always come first in a sentence?
No. In 'We stayed inside because it snowed,' the effect comes first, but the snow happened first.
Can one cause have many effects?
Yes. A storm can knock down trees, close roads and cut the power all at once.