Causes And Effects

To understand how our world works, it’s important to know about causes and effects

A cause makes something happen. A cause answers the question, “Why?”

Aidan is putting an egg on the sliding board.

The egg slides down.

It breaks!

Cause:

Aidan put the egg on the sliding board.

Effect :

The egg slid down and broke.

Which happens first—causes, or effects?

Cause Effect

Causes always come before effects

Here is cream in a bowl. It is liquid, like milk.

The mixer will beat it up. What will happen?

It’s whipped cream!

Cause: The cream is whipped with the mixer.

Effect: The liquid cream becomes fluffy whipped cream.

Why did the cream become fluffy?

The cream became fluffy because it was beaten with the mixer.

The cream became fluffy because it was beaten with the mixer. Notice that the cause answers the question “Why?”

This marshmallow is being held over a fire. What might happen next?

The fire makes the marshmallow brown and melted. It’s roasted!

Cause: The marshmallow was held over the fire. Effect:

Cause: The marshmallow was held over the fire. Effect: The marshmallow is roasted.

We can make a chart to show causes and effects.

Cause : The marshmallow is held over the fire Effect : The marshmallow is roasted.

Cause : The marshmallow is held over the fire Effect : The marshmallow is roasted. In the first box, we put the cause . In the second box, we put the effect .

Cause : The marshmallow is held over the fire Effect : The marshmallow is roasted. In the first box, we put the cause . In the second box, we put the effect . The arrow shows that the cause leads to the effect

What do you predict might happen to this block tower?

Cause : Aidan ran into the block tower with the toy excavator Effect :

Cause : Aidan ran into the block tower with the toy excavator Effect : The block tower fell!