Unit Plan 28 (Grade 4 ELA): Cause & Effect and Explaining Connections

Focus: Event/idea relationships; reasons/evidence; listening critique

Grade Level: 4

Subject Area: English Language Arts (Reading Informational, Speaking & Listening, Writing)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

This week teaches readers how to track what happened and why in informational texts—and how authors (and speakers) justify their points with reasons and evidence. Students will map cause/effect chains, explain connections among ideas and procedures, and evaluate the quality of reasons/evidence in both print and short oral presentations. By Friday, each learner will read a passage, explain key connections with text evidence, and critique a speaker’s reasons clearly and respectfully.

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to…

1. Identify and explain cause/effect relationships among events, ideas, or steps using text evidence (RI.4.3).
2. Determine an author’s point, reasons, and evidence; judge whether evidence supports the reasons (RI.4.8).
3. Paraphrase a speaker’s main points and evaluate the reasons/evidence given (SL.4.3).
4. Write short explanatory responses using clear because/so/therefore language and relevant details.

Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 4

• RI.4.3 (explain events/procedures/ideas and their relationships)
• RI.4.8 (explain how an author uses reasons/evidence to support points)
• SL.4.3 (identify reasons/evidence a speaker provides)

Success Criteria — student language

• I can show what happened and why using a cause→effect chain from the text.
• I can name an author’s point, list reasons, and cite evidence that supports those reasons.
• I can listen and tell whether a speaker’s reasons are relevant and enough.
• I can write a 5–6 sentence explanation that uses because/so/therefore and text details.