A free cause and effect anchor chart: what a cause is, what an effect is, the signal words that join them, and a sentence to try. For grades 2–5. Print it on one page, or on four pages to tape together as a poster.
Cause and effect
The cause is why something happened
It comes first in time.
Ask: why did this happen?
The effect is what happened
It is the result.
Ask: what happened because of it?
Signal words
because · so · since · as a result · therefore · if … then
Try it
It rained all night, so the game was moved.
Cause: it rained all night. Effect: the game was moved.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Cause and effect
The cause is why something happened
It comes first in time.
Ask: why did this happen?
The effect is what happened
It is the result.
Ask: what happened because of it?
Signal words
because · so · since · as a result · therefore · if … then
Try it
It rained all night, so the game was moved.
Cause: it rained all night. Effect: the game was moved.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
Cause and effect
The cause is why something happened
It comes first in time.
Ask: why did this happen?
The effect is what happened
It is the result.
Ask: what happened because of it?
Signal words
because · so · since · as a result · therefore · if … then
Try it
It rained all night, so the game was moved.
Cause: it rained all night. Effect: the game was moved.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
A1Cause and effect anchor chart · page 1 of 4 · A2 to the right · B1 below
A2 joins this side
10 cm at 100% · between the corner marks 7.5 × 10 in
Cause and effect
The cause is why something happened
It comes first in time.
Ask: why did this happen?
The effect is what happened
It is the result.
Ask: what happened because of it?
Signal words
because · so · since · as a result · therefore · if … then
Try it
It rained all night, so the game was moved.
Cause: it rained all night. Effect: the game was moved.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
A2Cause and effect anchor chart · page 2 of 4 · B2 below · trim the left and top at the marks and lay it over the one before
A1 joins this side
10 cm at 100% · between the corner marks 7.5 × 10 in
Cause and effect
The cause is why something happened
It comes first in time.
Ask: why did this happen?
The effect is what happened
It is the result.
Ask: what happened because of it?
Signal words
because · so · since · as a result · therefore · if … then
Try it
It rained all night, so the game was moved.
Cause: it rained all night. Effect: the game was moved.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
B1Cause and effect anchor chart · page 3 of 4 · B2 to the right · trim the left and top at the marks and lay it over the one before
B2 joins this side
10 cm at 100% · between the corner marks 7.5 × 10 in
Cause and effect
The cause is why something happened
It comes first in time.
Ask: why did this happen?
The effect is what happened
It is the result.
Ask: what happened because of it?
Signal words
because · so · since · as a result · therefore · if … then
Try it
It rained all night, so the game was moved.
Cause: it rained all night. Effect: the game was moved.
Free at teach.peabody.kids
B2Cause and effect anchor chart · page 4 of 4 · trim the left and top at the marks and lay it over the one before
B1 joins this side
10 cm at 100% · between the corner marks 7.5 × 10 in
How to use it
One page: print it for a notebook or a table, or project it while you teach.
A poster: print the four pages at 100% (the 10 cm bar on each page checks it). Each page after A1 says where it goes: trim its left and top edges at the marks, lay it over the page before at the ticks, and tape the back. It makes a poster about 15 by 20 inches.
Make it yours: build the chart with the class first and keep this one as your model, or add the class's own examples on sticky notes.