Classroom Activities: Cause and Effect
These classroom activities are designed to complement the Cause and Effect topic on BrainPOP Jr.
Bad, Bad Day
Have students make up their own stories about a bad, bad day. You may want to re-watch the first part of the movie where Annie explains what happened during her bad day. Students can write their stories down or tell them to each other or to the whole class. Then have other students point out the causes and effects in the stories. They can write their ideas down in a cause and effect chart, or you can write on the board so that everyone can complete the chart together.
What’s the Cause?
In a hat or box, write different effects on separate slips of paper. For example you may write “getting wet,” “breaking an arm,” “spilling a glass of milk,” or “feeling surprised.” Then have students pick an effect from the hat and discuss or write a possible cause. Have small groups share their causes and effects together. Then distribute one cause or effect slip to each student. Set a timer for one minute and see if each child can find the correct person to complete a corresponding cause and effect pair. When every child has found his or her match, read the causes and effects aloud and discuss. Can the class identify which person in each pair has the cause and who has the effect?
