Ready-to-teach lesson
TumbleTA · Standards-First Short Lesson · Grade 2
Because of an Acorn Build the Cause Chain
20 MINUTES
TARGET
Explain how one event or idea causes the next in a text.
STUDENT PRODUCT
Eight connected cause -> effect links plus one written explanation.
LESSON SEQUENCE
- 1.Open with the book’s chain Put these first four cards on the table in book order: ACORN ->
TREE -> BIRD -> SEED. Ask students to say what the repeated 'because of' move is doing between each one.
- 2.Students complete all eight printed arrows: ACORN -> TREE -> BIRD -> SEED -> FLOWER ->
FRUIT -> CHIPMUNK -> SNAKE -> HAWK. The order must come from the book.
- 3.Explain one fixed link Everyone explains the same link first: Because of the acorn, the tree
grows. Then students choose one later arrow and write their own because/so sentence.
- 4.Check against the ending Return to the later acorn reference. Ask whether the book has made
a line or a cycle, and have students correct any arrow that skips a stated link.
ASSESSMENT · LOOK FOR
- Keeps the reviewed chain in book order.
- Explains a genuine cause/effect connection, not sequence alone.
- Uses the book’s repeated structure to justify one link.
Standards-first rule: freeze the lesson after QA. Add a regional code only when the complete local expectation is actually satisfied.
TumbleTA · Student Evidence · Grade 2
Because of an Acorn
Build the Cause Chain
Name ________________________________ Date __________________
BOOK CHAIN
ACORN
->
TREE
TREE
BIRD
SEED
FLOWER
FRUIT
CHIPMUNK
-> -> -> -> -> ->
BIRD
SEED
FLOWER
FRUIT
CHIPMUNK
SNAKE
SNAKE
->
HAWK
Explain one later link: Because ____________________, ____________________ happened.
page 1
This student page is part of the frozen standards-first lesson. Complete the evidence shown here; do not substitute a different task to fit a standard.
page 2