Ask students if they know what cause and effect are. This is important so you can assess how much knowledge they already have about the topic; you can tailor your lesson to meet student needs if you know what they know.
Ask if any student can give an example of cause and effect. Add a few examples of your own. Write them down on the overhead or whiteboard. Point out that each sentence has two parts: the "cause," which might happen, and the "effect," which will happen only if the first thing happens.
Tell the students you are going to read "If You Give a Moose a Muffin." Read the first line of the story, "If you give a moose a muffin..." Explain that this is the "cause." Ask the students what the "effect" will be. Continue reading the book and end the lesson for day 1.
Review the concept of cause and effect briefly. Review the things that the moose wanted during the story. Write the moose's wants down in order on the whiteboard or overhead.
Pass out two or three strips of paper to each student. On each strip, have each student write one "If you ..." causes. Students should not list the effect. Fold the strips and place in a container.
Shake the container. Tell the students that each person is going to pick a strip out of the container and complete the "effect." Once each student has done this, students should trade completed strips and read them aloud to the class, one at a time, identifying the cause and the effect verbally.