Activity Overview
A very important part of any story is the cause and effect relationships that come out of events in the plot. Get students predicting and problem-solving, by demonstrating their understanding of chain reactions in The Cay. Have them create a T-Chart storyboard depicting causes on the left and their effects on the right. To alter or shorten the activity, consider providing students with some cells already filled in and ask them to infer the logical contents of the empty cells.
Example The Cay Cause and Effect
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| The Germans start bombing the oil refineries in Curaçao. | Phillip and his mother board the S.S. Hato to return to the United States where it is safer. |
| A piece of debris hits Phillip on the head after the S.S. Hato is torpedoed. | Phillip goes blind. |
| Timothy cares for Phillip and teaches him how to survive. | Phillip becomes friends with Timothy and cares for him when he is sick. |
Note: teachers may want to explore the T-Chart definition before assigning this activity.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows cause and effect relationships in The Cay. Each cause and effect pair will be shown in the same row.
- On the left side of the T-Chart, illustrate events that show cause (why).
- On the right side of the T-Chart, illustrate events that are the direct effect of that cause.
- Write a description below each cause.
- In the description under each effect, show how the cause and effect are related.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | All events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes. These events are why something else happened. | Most events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. | Few or no events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. |
| Effect | All events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects. These events are direct results of something else. | Most events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. | Few or no events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. |
| Images | Images clearly show the events in the story that have been identified as causes and effects. | Images show events from the story, but not all images match the cause and effect events. | Images do not represent the story or are missing. |
| Cause and Effect Relationship | All rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Most rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Few or no rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. |
Activity Overview
A very important part of any story is the cause and effect relationships that come out of events in the plot. Get students predicting and problem-solving, by demonstrating their understanding of chain reactions in The Cay. Have them create a T-Chart storyboard depicting causes on the left and their effects on the right. To alter or shorten the activity, consider providing students with some cells already filled in and ask them to infer the logical contents of the empty cells.
Example The Cay Cause and Effect
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| The Germans start bombing the oil refineries in Curaçao. | Phillip and his mother board the S.S. Hato to return to the United States where it is safer. |
| A piece of debris hits Phillip on the head after the S.S. Hato is torpedoed. | Phillip goes blind. |
| Timothy cares for Phillip and teaches him how to survive. | Phillip becomes friends with Timothy and cares for him when he is sick. |
Note: teachers may want to explore the T-Chart definition before assigning this activity.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows cause and effect relationships in The Cay. Each cause and effect pair will be shown in the same row.
- On the left side of the T-Chart, illustrate events that show cause (why).
- On the right side of the T-Chart, illustrate events that are the direct effect of that cause.
- Write a description below each cause.
- In the description under each effect, show how the cause and effect are related.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | All events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes. These events are why something else happened. | Most events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. | Few or no events on the left side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as causes or why something else happened. |
| Effect | All events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects. These events are direct results of something else. | Most events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. | Few or no events on the right side of the T-Chart are correctly identified as effects or direct results of something else. |
| Images | Images clearly show the events in the story that have been identified as causes and effects. | Images show events from the story, but not all images match the cause and effect events. | Images do not represent the story or are missing. |
| Cause and Effect Relationship | All rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Most rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. | Few or no rows correctly show cause events in the story having a direct effect on the effect events. |
How Tos about Cause and Effect in The Cay
Incorporate cause and effect discussions into class conversations
Prompt students during read-alouds or group readings to identify events and ask what caused them or what might happen next. Encouraging open discussions helps students practice identifying cause and effect in context and deepens comprehension.
Connect cause and effect to students’ real-life experiences
Invite students to share examples of cause and effect from their own lives, then relate these to events in The Cay. This makes learning relevant and helps students internalize the concept by applying it beyond the text.
Use visual aids beyond T-Charts to map cause and effect
Try graphic organizers like flow charts or comic strips to visually represent sequences of events. These alternatives can engage diverse learners and support those who benefit from different visual formats.
Encourage students to write their own cause and effect scenarios
Challenge students to invent short stories or paragraphs where a clear cause leads to an effect, inspired by themes from The Cay. Writing their own examples strengthens understanding and creativity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cause and Effect in The Cay
What is a cause and effect T-Chart activity for The Cay?
A cause and effect T-Chart activity for The Cay helps students analyze how events in the story lead to specific outcomes. Students list causes on one side of the chart and corresponding effects on the other, showing their understanding of plot relationships.
How do I teach cause and effect using The Cay in middle school?
To teach cause and effect using The Cay, have students identify key events and their results, create a T-Chart or storyboard, and discuss how actions drive the plot. This encourages prediction, inference, and deeper comprehension.
What are some examples of cause and effect in The Cay?
Examples include: Germans bombing Curaçao causes Phillip and his mother to flee; Phillip being hit by debris causes his blindness; Timothy caring for Phillip leads to their friendship. Illustrating these pairs helps students connect story events.
Why is understanding cause and effect important in The Cay?
Understanding cause and effect is important in The Cay because it reveals character motivations, the impact of choices, and how events shape the story. This skill deepens comprehension and critical thinking.
What is the best way to modify a cause and effect lesson for struggling students?
The best way to modify a cause and effect lesson is to provide partially completed T-Charts, offer sentence starters, or work in pairs. This scaffolding helps struggling students make connections and succeed.
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