CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.2.3

ELA2nd GradeKey Ideas and Details

The Standard

Describe the connection between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Reading Standards for Informational Text

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students track events, ideas, or directions across an informational text. They explain whether details are linked by time order, cause and effect, or a step-by-step sequence.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students correctly explain time order, cause and effect, or how one step leads to another. They use details from the text and words such as because, so, before, after, or next.
Common Misconceptions: Students may list details without explaining how they are related. They may confuse what happened first with what caused something else, or treat every connection as cause and effect.
How to Assess It: Use this exit ticket: “Rain soaked the hill. The soil became loose, so it slid downhill and covered the road.” Ask, “How are the events connected?”

Lesson moves

Give pairs mixed-up cards showing a seed growing; students order them and add arrows labeled before, after, because, or result.
Read a short volcano passage, then ask how one event causes the next; students discuss and write an answer using text details.
Play Connection Match: students pair event or step cards, then explain each match using because, so, before, or after.
Have students map the steps for washing hands and explain why changing the order could affect the result.

Free download