Cause, Sequence and Time Language
A 40-minute Grade 3 lesson on describing relationships in a text using language that pertains to time, sequence and cause.
Cause, Sequence and Time Language is a free 40-minute Grade 3 English lesson plan for Common Core standard RI.3.3 — explain how events or steps connect, using time and cause words. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 3
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- RI.3.3
Grade 3 · Reading: Informational Text
RI.3.3
Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.
Objective
Students will be able to describe a relationship in a text using precise time, sequence or cause language.
Students are successful when they can
- Chooses the right kind of connective.
- States the relationship accurately.
- Distinguishes a cause from a sequence.
What you need
- A history or science text with a chain of events
- Connective cards sorted into time, sequence and cause
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — sort the connectives
5 min- Sort twelve connectives into time, sequence and cause.
- Note that some belong to two piles.
Teach — same pair, three relationships
13 min- Take two events from the text.
- Describe them with a time word, then a sequence word, then a cause word.
- Ask which is true. Often only one is.
- Say the difference: 'after' says nothing about cause; 'because' claims it.
- Find a pair in the text where 'after' is true and 'because' is not.
“'After' and 'because' both put them in that order. Only one of them says the first made the second happen.”
Guided practice — three pairs
12 min- Pairs describe three relationships from the text, choosing a connective for each.
- For each, they say why the other two kinds would be wrong.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the relationships page.
- The passage is on the sheet.
Close
2 min- Give two events. Take the connective and a reason.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Uses 'because' where only 'after' is supported.
Why: Two events in order look causal.
Fix: Ask what the text says caused it. If nothing, 'after' is the honest word.
Uses only 'then' for everything.
Why: It is safe and never wrong about order.
Fix: The three piles. Safety costs precision, and precision is the standard.
Reverses cause and effect.
Why: Both are in the text and neither is labelled.
Fix: Say it aloud both ways. Only one is plausible.
If they are not there yet
- Two kinds of connective rather than three.
- Give the two events.
If they finish early
- Find a relationship with two causes.
- Find an event with a cause the text implies but never states.
- Rewrite a sequence as a cause chain where the text supports it.
Exit ticket
Describe how these two events relate, using the most accurate connective.
What to look for: A connective the text supports. 'Because' with no stated cause means the honest-word test needs another run.
Printable practice for RI.3.3
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Cause and EffectRead the text, then answer the questions.
Questions about Cause, Sequence and Time Language
How long does the Cause, Sequence and Time Language lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Cause, Sequence and Time Language teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.3 — RI.3.3, Reading: Informational Text for Grade 3: “Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.” In plain terms, explain how events or steps connect, using time and cause words.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
A history or science text with a chain of events, connective cards sorted into time, sequence and cause and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: uses 'because' where only 'after' is supported; uses only 'then' for everything and reverses cause and effect. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Describe how these two events relate, using the most accurate connective.” A connective the text supports. 'Because' with no stated cause means the honest-word test needs another run. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Cause, Sequence and Time Language?
Yes — 1 printable RI.3.3 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Cause, Sequence and Time Language free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to RI.3.3 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.