Grade 3 - Reading

Grade 3 Cause and Effect Worksheet

6 printable versions - On Level - About 11 minutes each

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Cause and Effect

Grade 3 - Reading - On Level

Worksheet 1
  1. Read "The Seed Library": Ms. Imani opened a seed library in a cabinet beside the science table. Each envelope listed the plant name, planting month, and number of seeds. Families borrowed seeds, planted them at home, and reported which plants grew well. What caused this effect: "Students compared which plants grew well in different gardens."?

  2. Read "The Night Hike": Before the park hike, Mateo clipped a small red light to his backpack. The guide asked everyone to keep voices low because owls were nesting nearby. When the group reached the overlook, Mateo pointed out the trail markers without disturbing the birds. What was the effect of this cause: "Owls were nesting near the trail."?

  3. Which cause-and-effect pair matches "The Bridge Revision"?

  4. Which event is not the cause of "Students compared which plants grew well in different gardens." in "The Seed Library"?

  5. Complete this cause-and-effect sentence from "The Night Hike": Because owls were nesting near the trail, ___

  6. Read "The Weather Journal": For two weeks, Asha recorded the temperature before recess and drew a symbol for the sky. She noticed that cloudy mornings often became cooler afternoons. Her chart helped the class decide when jackets were needed. What caused this effect: "The class used the chart to decide when jackets were needed."?

  7. Read "The Weather Journal": For two weeks, Asha recorded the temperature before recess and drew a symbol for the sky. She noticed that cloudy mornings often became cooler afternoons. Her chart helped the class decide when jackets were needed. What was the effect of this cause: "Cloudy mornings often became cooler afternoons."?

  8. Which cause-and-effect pair matches "The Broken Sundial"?

  9. Which event is not the cause of "The class used the chart to decide when jackets were needed." in "The Weather Journal"?

  10. Complete this cause-and-effect sentence from "The Broken Sundial": Because the stone base had shifted out of place, ___

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About this worksheet

Cause and effect help readers explain how events connect. A cause tells why something happened, and an effect tells what happened because of it. Third graders may reverse the two, especially when both ideas appear in the same sentence. They may also choose an event that is in the passage but is not connected to the target event. This worksheet uses short passages with clear relationships, then asks students to identify causes, effects, and matching pairs. Encourage your child to use the words because and so as a test. If the sentence makes sense with because, the cause is probably in the right place. Students should explain the connection, not only repeat a sentence from the passage. That explanation proves they understand the relationship.

What your child will learn

  • Identify causes in a passage
  • Identify effects in a passage
  • Match connected events
  • Avoid reversing cause and effect

Worked example

The soil was dry, so Mia watered the plants. Dry soil is the cause; watering is the effect.

Common mistake

Choosing an event from the passage that is not the reason for the target event.

Helpful hint

A cause answers why. An effect answers what happened.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with cause and effect?
Choosing an event from the passage that is not the reason for the target event.
How can I help my child with cause and effect?
A cause answers why. An effect answers what happened.
Are these 3rd grade reading worksheets free to print?
Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

More 3rd grade informational worksheets

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