The Reasons an Author Gives
A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on finding the reason an author gives for a point, and telling a reason from a fact.
The Reasons an Author Gives is a free 30-minute Kindergarten English lesson plan for Common Core standard RI.K.8 — find the reason the writer gives for something they said. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the meaning, 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:
- Kindergarten
- Length:
- 30 minutes
- Standard:
- RI.K.8
Kindergarten · Reading: Informational Text
RI.K.8
With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
Objective
Students will be able to find the reason an author gives for something they say.
Students are successful when they can
- Holds up WHY for "Germs can make you sick." and WHAT for "You should wash your hands."
- Says "The author says wash your hands because germs can make you sick."
- Finds the reason in a new text: "Wear a hat because the sun can burn your skin."
What you need
- The text "Wash Your Hands" (in Teach), on chart paper
- Two colored cards per child: WHAT (blue) and WHY (yellow)
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — why should I?
4 min- Say: "Eat your vegetables." Pause, and look puzzled: "But why?" Let the class answer. Fish for "they make you strong" or "they are good for you."
- Say: "Put your coat on." Ask why. Fish for "it is cold."
- Say: "When someone tells us to do something, a good reason helps us believe them. Authors give reasons too."
Teach — what, and why
10 min- Read: "You should wash your hands before you eat. Germs can make you sick. Soap washes the germs away. Wash for as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday two times."
- Hold up the blue WHAT card: "What does the author want us to do?" Fish for "wash your hands." Underline that sentence in blue.
- Hold up the yellow WHY card: "Why does the author say we should?" Fish for "germs can make you sick." Underline it in yellow.
- Say the joined sentence slowly: "The author says wash your hands BECAUSE germs can make you sick." Have the class say it with you.
- Point to the last sentence: "Wash for as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday two times." Ask: "Is that why we wash, or how to wash?" Fish for "how." Say: "Not every sentence is the reason."
“What does the author want us to do? Why? The why is the reason, and it joins on with because.”
Guided practice — hold up a card
8 min- Read a new text one sentence at a time: "Wear a hat when you play in the sun. The sun can burn your skin. A hat keeps your face in the shade."
- After each sentence, children hold up WHAT or WHY. Expect a split on the third sentence; accept it as a second reason and discuss.
- Ask: "What does the author want? Why?" Have pairs say the because sentence to each other: "Wear a hat because the sun can burn your skin."
- Try one more with no reason: "Go to bed early." Ask: "Did the author give a reason?" No. Ask the class: "What reason could they give?"
“Is that the WHAT or the WHY? Show me your card.”
Independent practice
6 min- Read the text on the sheet aloud twice.
- Read each question. Children circle the reason the author gives, and for the fact questions, circle the fact the text states.
Close
2 min- Ask: "Why does the author say wash your hands?" The whole class answers with the because sentence.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Gives a reason from home: "Wash your hands because my mom says so."
Why: The child has a real, true reason of their own and does not see that the question asks for the author's reason.
Fix: Ask: "What did the AUTHOR say?" Reread the text and hold up WHY on the yellow sentence. Their reason is fine; it is just not this author's.
Holds up WHY for "Soap washes the germs away."
Why: It is linked to the reason and does explain something, so it feels like a reason too.
Fix: Accept it as close: "That tells us how soap helps. The big reason to wash is that germs make you sick." Then put the two sentences side by side.
Repeats the WHAT as the WHY: "Wash your hands because you should wash your hands."
Why: The child has the because frame but not yet the idea of a separate reason behind the instruction.
Fix: Ask: "What would happen if you did not wash?" The answer, "you could get sick," is the reason.
If they are not there yet
- Use a text with only the WHAT and WHY sentences, nothing extra.
- Give a frame: "Wash your hands because ___."
- Act it with glitter on hands as germs, washed away with soap.
If they finish early
- Find two reasons the author gives in the hat text.
- Write or dictate a WHAT and a WHY for a class rule, such as "walk in the corridor."
- Say whether the author's reason is a good one, and add a reason of their own.
Exit ticket
"Wear a hat in the sun. The sun can burn your skin." What does the author want? Why?
What to look for: "Wear a hat" and "the sun can burn your skin." A reason of their own ("it looks cool") means the child is not using the text. Repeating "wear a hat" as the why means the idea of a separate reason is not there yet.
Printable practice for RI.K.8
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Why Does the Author Say So?Draw a line from what the author says to the reason.
Questions about The Reasons an Author Gives
How long does the The Reasons an Author Gives lesson take?
30 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 4 min, teach 10 min, guided practice 8 min, independent practice 6 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 The Reasons an Author Gives teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.8 — RI.K.8, Reading: Informational Text for Kindergarten: “With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.” In plain terms, find the reason the writer gives for something they said.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
The text "Wash Your Hands" (in Teach), on chart paper, two colored cards per child: WHAT (blue) and WHY (yellow) 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: gives a reason from home: "Wash your hands because my mom says so."; holds up WHY for "Soap washes the germs away." and repeats the WHAT as the WHY: "Wash your hands because you should wash your hands.". 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: “"Wear a hat in the sun. The sun can burn your skin." What does the author want? Why?.” "Wear a hat" and "the sun can burn your skin." A reason of their own ("it looks cool") means the child is not using the text. Repeating "wear a hat" as the why means the idea of a separate reason is not there yet. 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 The Reasons an Author Gives?
Yes — 1 printable RI.K.8 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 The Reasons an Author Gives 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 October 8, 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-10-08. Aligned to RI.K.8 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.