Cause and Effect Relationships - 3rd Grade Science

Which choice is the effect: If you water a plant, it stays healthy; which part is the effect?

The plant stays healthy. Staying healthy is the outcome of watering.
Which option is the effect? "A stronger wind blew, so the kite rose higher."

The kite rose higher. Rising higher resulted from stronger wind.
Which word best fits the cause blank? "The sidewalk was wet _____ it rained."

Because. "Because" connects an effect to its cause.
Which phrase most often signals an effect: due to, because of, or as a result?

As a result. This phrase introduces what happened due to a cause.
Identify the effect: A strong wind blew, and the tree branches moved.

The tree branches moved. Movement is the result of wind force.
Identify the effect: "The temperature dropped, so the pond froze."

The pond froze. Freezing resulted from the temperature drop.
Which option is the effect? "It rained. The ground became muddy."

The ground became muddy. Muddy ground resulted from the rain.
Identify the effect: The rabbit hid when it heard a loud noise.

The rabbit hid. Hiding is the response to the noise.
Which interaction shows a cause-and-effect relationship: pushing a swing, or seeing a cloud?

Pushing a swing. Pushing causes movement; seeing doesn't cause clouds.
Identify the cause: A strong wind blew, and the tree branches moved.

A strong wind blew. Wind is what triggered the movement.
Which question best helps you find a cause: "What happened?" or "Why did it happen?"

"Why did it happen?". "Why" asks for the reason or cause.
Which word best fits the effect blank? "It rained; _____ the sidewalk was wet."

Therefore. "Therefore" connects a cause to its effect.
What is a cause in a cause-and-effect relationship?

The action or event that makes something happen. A cause triggers or initiates a change.
Identify the effect: The sidewalk dried after the sun came out.

The sidewalk dried. Drying is what happened after the sun appeared.
Identify the effect: The temperature dropped, so the pond surface began to freeze.

The pond surface began to freeze. Freezing is what happened due to cold temperature.
Identify the cause: "The fish population decreased after the water became polluted."

The water became polluted. Pollution happened first and caused the decrease.
Identify the cause: The plant grew taller because it received more sunlight.

It received more sunlight. Sunlight is the reason for the growth.
Which word best signals a cause: because, therefore, or as a result?

Because. "Because" introduces the reason something happened.
Which word is a cause-and-effect signal word: because, meanwhile, or yesterday?

because. This word introduces the reason something happened.
Identify the effect: A plant wilted after it was not watered for a week.

The plant wilted. Wilting is what happened due to no water.
Identify the cause: "Bees visited the flower, and the flower was pollinated."

Bees visited the flower. Bee visits trigger pollination.
Identify the effect: A rabbit hears a loud noise, so it runs into its burrow.

The rabbit runs into its burrow. Running away is the rabbit's response to noise.
Identify the cause: A plant wilted after it was not watered for a week.

The plant was not watered for a week. Lack of water is why the plant wilted.
Which is the cause? "A rabbit ran away when it heard a loud noise."

It heard a loud noise. The noise triggered the rabbit's response.
What is the meaning of the word cause in a cause-and-effect relationship?

The event or action that makes something happen. A cause triggers or initiates an event.
Identify the effect: The sidewalk is wet because it rained last night.

The sidewalk is wet. Wetness is the result of the rain.
Identify the cause: It rained, so the playground became muddy.

It rained. Rain is what triggered the muddiness.
What is the meaning of the word effect in a cause-and-effect relationship?

The result or change that happens because of a cause. An effect is what occurs after a cause.
Which question best helps you find the effect in a science situation?

What happened as a result. This question traces forward from cause to effect.
Identify the cause: The temperature dropped, so the pond surface began to freeze.

The temperature dropped. Cold temperature is why the pond froze.
Which interaction shows a cause and its effect: pushing a swing makes it move, or a swing moves without a push?

Pushing a swing makes it move. Pushing causes movement; swings need force to move.
Which word most often signals a cause: because, therefore, or as a result?

Because. "Because" introduces the reason something happened.
Which word is a cause-and-effect signal word: therefore, beside, or quickly?

therefore. This word introduces a consequence or conclusion.
Identify the cause: The sidewalk dried after the sun came out.

The sun came out. The sun triggered the drying process.
Identify the cause: When a magnet is brought near paper clips, the paper clips move.

A magnet is brought near the paper clips. The magnet's presence is why clips moved.
Which option is the cause? "A stronger wind blew, so the kite rose higher."

A stronger wind blew. Wind strength caused the kite's rise.
Which phrase best signals an effect: due to, because of, or as a result?

As a result. This phrase introduces what happened after a cause.
Identify the cause: The sidewalk is wet because it rained last night.

It rained last night. Rain is the reason the sidewalk became wet.
Which question best helps you find an effect: "What changed?" or "What caused it?"

"What changed?". "What changed" identifies the result or effect.
Identify the effect: When a magnet is brought near paper clips, the paper clips move.

The paper clips move toward the magnet. Movement is what happens due to magnetic force.
Identify the cause: The rabbit hid when it heard a loud noise.

It heard a loud noise. The noise triggered the hiding behavior.
Which phrase is a cause-and-effect signal: leads to, between, or around?

leads to. This phrase shows one thing causing another.
Identify the effect: The plant grew taller because it received more sunlight.

The plant grew taller. Growing taller is the result of sunlight.
What is an effect in a cause-and-effect relationship?

The result or change that happens because of a cause. An effect is what occurs after a cause acts.
Which option is the best cause-and-effect match: Sunlight increases → plant grows, or plant grows → sunlight increases?

Sunlight increases → plant grows. Sunlight causes growth; plants don't create sunlight.
Identify the missing effect: It snowed overnight; therefore, the roads were ____.

Slippery. Snow makes roads slippery and dangerous.
Which option is the cause? "A plant did not get sunlight, so it grew poorly."

The plant did not get sunlight. Lack of sunlight caused poor growth.
Identify the cause: "The temperature dropped, so the pond froze."

The temperature dropped. Cold temperature caused the freezing.
Which question best helps you find the cause in a science situation?

What made this happen. This question traces backward from effect to cause.
Identify the missing cause: The room got dark because the ____ was turned off.

Light. Turning off light causes darkness.
Which statement describes an interaction: A bee pollinates a flower or a rock sits on sand?

A bee pollinates a flower. Pollination shows two things affecting each other.
Identify the effect: "Bees visited the flower, and the flower was pollinated."

The flower was pollinated. Pollination resulted from the bee visit.
Which option best describes a cause-and-effect chain?

A sequence where one effect becomes the next cause. Each effect triggers the next event in sequence.
Identify the effect: "The fish population decreased after the water became polluted."

The fish population decreased. Fish decrease resulted from water pollution.
Identify the effect: It rained, so the playground became muddy.

The playground became muddy. Becoming muddy is the result of rain.
Which is the effect? "A rabbit ran away when it heard a loud noise."

The rabbit ran away. Running away resulted from the noise.
Which phrase is a cause-and-effect signal: as a result, on top of, or next to?

as a result. This phrase introduces an outcome or consequence.

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