Family and Homeschool Activities: Cause and Effect

These family and homeschool activities are designed to complement the Cause and Effect topic on BrainPOP Jr.

What Happens Next?

Start a story about a character who goes on an adventure where one event causes another. For example, you might start a story about a character that finds a time machine: “One day Moby found a time machine. He turned it on, and as a result, he….” Then have your child finish the sentence with the effect. After that, have him or her ask you to finish the next part of the story. Encourage your child to use and listen for signal words and phrases such as “as a result” or “due to” to help him or her consider the cause/effect relationships. You and your child may want to draw or take notes as you tell the story together.

If…Then

Play a game that explores causes and effects. Start off by modeling a sentence using the “if…then” construction. For example, “If I throw a ball, then it will fly across the backyard.” You may even want to demonstrate it! Then have your child create his or her own “if…then” sentence. After each sentence, discuss the cause and effect. Try playing the game again later on while cooking together. How many “if…then” statements can your child construct while helping you make a simple meal?