Activity Overview
In this activity, students have the opportunity to analyze different events in the text for cause and effect relationships. This is often a challenging task for students, and creating a T-Chart graphic organizer is a great way to help them visualize the relationship between events.
There are many ways to approach this activity. One is for students to identify events that have a cause and effect relationship, and then create a storyboard to illustrate those events. With younger students, or students struggling with this concept, the teacher can provide students with a cause, and students can determine the effect, creating a storyboard to match. This can also be done in reverse with the teacher providing the effect, and students determining the cause.
As a further accommodation or activity, the storyboard example can be printed and cut up. Students can then match causes with effects.
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 Charlotte's Web. 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 To Facilitate a Discussion on Cause and Effect in Charlotte’s Web Using StoryboardThat
Introduce Storyboarding
Introduce storyboarding to students and explain why and how this method of learning is fun and efficient. Teachers can also explain the learning objectives to students and show some visualizations of how storyboarding is done.
Explain the Activity
Explain the cause and effect activity to the students and tell them about how every action has a consequence. Before starting this activity for Charlotte’s Web, give some simple examples from other stories such as in Hare and the Tortoise, the cause was the Hare being overconfident and sleeping while the effect was the Tortoise winning.
Use T- Charts
Show the students T-Charts and how they can be used to explain the cause and effect. Students can first read the story thoroughly and highlight as many cause and effect events as they can find to count the number of cells they will be using.
Use Illustrations
Students can leave a part in the cell to put drawings or visuals depicting the event. These drawings can be simple such as drawing a pig for Wilbus and an easy spider for Charlotte. Teachers can show students some simple tricks or a guide to draw these characters. Students can also get some stickers or drawings from the internet.
Teach Summarization
Teach the students to write a sentence summary of each event in the cell. These sentences should be precise but give readers a clear view of what is happening. Teachers can also provide some summarization practice to students beforehand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charlotte's Web Cause and Effect Analysis Activity
Why is a cause and effect analysis necessary to comprehend the narrative?
Understanding the relationships between various events and the characters' behavior in the tale is made easier for readers by using a cause and effect analysis. It offers information on the plot's development, character motives, and the book's overarching message. It also helps students reflect on the consequences of different actions.
How can teachers help students determine cause-and-effect connections in "Charlotte's Web"?
By searching for instances when one action immediately follows another, resulting in a chain of occurrences, students may spot cause and effect links. For instance, Charlotte's choice to include messages in her web alters how humans view Wilbur. Students can also analyze the impact of change in one event on the other.
What prominent instances of cause and effect can be found in "Charlotte's Web"?
Examples include Charlotte's choice to weave messages to save Wilbur's life, which causes Wilbur to gain fame and human affection. Fern also has a deeper grasp of the circle of life as a result of her decision to defend Wilbur.
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Charlotte's Web
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