4FN21 – Reading & Writing – Cause and Effect

How do FreeNode lessons work?

FreeNodes are instructor-led schooling lessons with a unique approach, granting you the freedom to independently teach using a personalized lesson plan. This autonomy enables you to tailor your lessons to suit students’ individual needs, learning styles, and interests.

To use a FreeNode, read the provided class outline & follow the formatting provided for each class. Make sure to touch on the Theocratic Connection in each class. Follow the outline closely so it is aligned with our main at-home curriculum.

How Do I Use the FreeNode?

Read this lesson plan before class to familiarize yourself with the ideas and concepts you’ll be teaching the students. You may print this page out if you need to use it as a reference point during live classes.

This lesson is a guide, but feel free to expand on the content or decrease/increase what you teach depending on the learning levels of the students in your class or the amount of time you have to cover the material.

Can I show videos in FN classes?

Yes, feel free to include additional material to supplement the class lesson material. Videos, Physical Objects, Games, Activities, etc. are okay to share in live classes.

Videos should have no advertisements or logos and should be viewed by you before showing them to the students to ensure no offensive or questionable content is included.

The video should make up only 1-3 minutes of the live class and should not take the place of instructor-led instruction. Videos should be supplementary only.

How do bookmarks work?

Bookmarks help you keep track of lessons you’re going to teach in future live classes. The bookmarks you see are for all your bookmarked lessons across all grades.

You can bookmark a lesson by visiting the lesson you want to bookmark and clicking the “bookmark” button in the bookmark section.

You can remove a single bookmark by visiting a lesson you’ve bookmarked and clicking the “bookmark” button again to unbookmark it.

You can clear all of your bookmarks by clicking the “clear all bookmarks” button. Be careful, this will erase all of your bookmarks.

Class Lesson Plan

Objectives:

Students will learn to identify cause-and-effect relationships in stories and understand their significance in shaping narrative progression and character development.

Materials:

Whiteboard
Visual aids (images depicting cause and effect scenarios)
Examples of stories highlighting cause and effect relationships
Bible passages showcasing cause and effect situations (optional)

Introduction (3 minutes):

Start with a discussion on cause and effect, relating it to everyday experiences where actions lead to specific outcomes. Explain that understanding cause and effect in stories helps readers comprehend the sequence of events and the motivations behind characters’ actions.

Theocratic Connections:

Read and discuss a Bible passage that demonstrates cause and effect relationships, emphasizing how characters’ decisions and actions influence the outcome of events. Connect biblical examples to the importance of recognizing cause and effect in storytelling.

Activity 1 – Exploring & Identifying Cause and Effect (12 minutes):

Define cause and effect and discuss its importance in storytelling. Break down the concept into three steps: 1) looking for actions, 2) connecting events, and 3) thinking like a detective. Use examples to illustrate each step and engage students in identifying causes and effects in stories.

Guide students in practicing identifying cause and effect relationships in stories. Encourage them to ask themselves connection questions such as identifying the main idea of the story and understanding why certain events occurred. Use short stories or excerpts to facilitate this activity.

Activity 2 – Application and Reflection (12 minutes):

Introduce linking words used to express cause and effect relationships in writing, such as “so,” “because,” “as a result,” and “therefore.” Provide a sample story and guide students in writing sentences that articulate the cause-and-effect relationships within it. Encourage creativity in using linking words effectively.

Have students apply their understanding of cause and effect by writing short paragraphs or stories that incorporate these relationships. Encourage them to reflect on how identifying cause and effect enhances their understanding of storytelling and character development.

Conclusion (3 minutes):

Summarize the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the significance of cause and effect in understanding narrative structure and character dynamics. Encourage students to apply their knowledge of cause and effect in their future reading and writing endeavors.

Assessment:

Evaluate student understanding through their participation in class discussions, engagement in the activities, and the quality of their written responses. Encourage students to share their insights into cause and effect relationships and how they contribute to storytelling.