If This Happens, Then That Happens!

Materials Needed

• Two paper plates or sheets of paper
• Crayons or washable markers
• Small toy, stuffed animal, or blocks
• Three cups or bowls
• Picture cards or homemade drawings of actions and results
• Optional: a timer

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:

• Explain that “if” tells us about something that may happen.
• Use “if…then…” to describe at least three cause-and-effect ideas.
• Put simple events in the correct order.
• Make a safe, creative “if…then…” rule for a game or story.

Success Criteria

I can:

• Say an “if…then…” sentence.
• Show what happens first and what happens next.
• Tell whether an idea is safe and kind.

Introduction: The Magic “If” Word

Hook: Hold up the toy and say, “If I put the toy in this cup, then where will it go? Let’s find out!”

Invite the child to make a prediction. Put the toy in a cup and say:

“If the toy goes in the cup, then the toy is inside the cup!”

Explain in simple language:

“The word if helps us talk about something that might happen. The word then tells what happens next.”

Tell the child:

“Today we will play with if-and-then ideas, make predictions, and create our own silly rules.”

Body: I Do

1. Model Cause and Effect

Show the child an action and its result.

• “If I tap the block, then it may move.”
• “If I drop the ball, then it goes down.”
• “If I feel thirsty, then I take a drink.”
• “If I put on my shoes, then I can go outside.”

Use motions for each sentence. Ask the child to copy the motions.

2. Quick Check

Ask:

• “What word tells us what might happen?” (If.)
• “What word tells us what happens next?” (Then.)
• “If I open the umbrella, what might happen?”

Body: We Do

3. If-and-Then Movement Game

Read each sentence. The child acts out the “then” part.

1. “If I say ‘jump,’ then you jump one time.”
2. “If I clap twice, then you turn around.”
3. “If I touch my head, then you touch your toes.”
4. “If I whisper ‘freeze,’ then you stand still.”

Let the child create one rule for the adult to follow.

4. What Happens Next?

Place two picture cards or drawings in front of the child: one showing an action and one showing a result. Help the child match them.

Examples:

• Rain cloud → puddle
• Seed in soil → plant
• Soap and water → clean hands
• Hungry child → eating a snack
• Button pressed → toy makes a sound

Use the sentence frame:

“If ______ happens, then ______ happens.”

5. Safe or Not Safe?

Explain that rules should be safe and kind. Read each idea and ask the child to give a thumbs-up for safe or place a hand over the heart for kind.

• “If I want a toy, then I ask politely.”
• “If I am angry, then I hit someone.”
• “If I spill water, then I ask for help cleaning it.”
• “If I see something I do not know, then I ask a trusted grown-up.”

For unsafe ideas, invite the child to suggest a safer choice.

Body: You Do

6. Make Your Own If-and-Then Game

Invite the child to choose one activity:

• Movement game: Create a body-movement rule.
• Block game: Build a tower and make a rule about adding blocks.
• Drawing game: Draw an “if” picture and a “then” picture.
• Story game: Make up a short story using three “if…then…” sentences.

Offer this example:

“If the puppy finds a ball, then the puppy plays fetch. If the puppy gets tired, then the puppy rests. If the puppy is thirsty, then the puppy drinks water.”

Ask the child to create at least three sentences. Write down the child’s words if needed.

7. Three-Cup Prediction Challenge

1. Place the toy under one of three cups.
2. Move the cups slowly.
3. Ask the child to choose a cup.
4. Before looking, ask: “If you choose this cup, then what might you find?”
5. Reveal the toy and celebrate the prediction.

Remind the child that a prediction can be right or wrong. Predicting is a way to think and try.

Formative Assessment

During the lesson, observe whether the child can:

• Complete a sentence beginning with “If…”
• Identify what happens next in a simple sequence.
• Follow an if-and-then movement rule.
• Suggest a safe or kind choice.

Give specific feedback:

“You told me what happened first and what happened next. That was a clear if-and-then idea!”

Summative Assessment: Tell, Show, and Create

Ask the child to complete these three tasks:

1. Tell: Say one “if…then…” sentence.
2. Show: Act out or demonstrate the sentence.
3. Create: Make a new safe and kind rule for a game.

The child demonstrates success by completing two or more tasks with little help.

Differentiation and Support

For a Child Who Needs More Support

• Use picture cards instead of spoken examples only.
• Offer two choices: “If it rains, then do we use an umbrella or sunglasses?”
• Repeat the sentence frame: “If ___, then ___.”
• Use gestures for “if” and “then.”
• Accept pointing, acting, or drawing instead of speaking.

For a Child Ready for More Challenge

• Create a three-step rule: “If this happens, then that happens, and next…”
• Ask what could happen if the first event changes.
• Write or dictate a short story with four “if…then…” sentences.
• Invent a pretend robot that follows safe and kind instructions.

Real-World Connection

Point out everyday examples:

• “If the light is red, then we stop.”
• “If we wash our hands, then our hands get cleaner.”
• “If we put toys away, then we can find them later.”
• “If we need help, then we ask a trusted grown-up.”

Conclusion and Recap

Ask the child to finish these sentences:

• “The word that starts a possibility is…” (If.)
• “The word that tells what happens next is…” (Then.)
• “One safe rule I made was…”

End with a chant and motions:

“If I think, then I can try!
If I try, then I can learn!
If I need help, then I can ask!”

Optional Follow-Up Activity

During the day, invite the child to notice and draw three real-life “if…then…” examples. For example: “If I water the plant, then the soil gets wet.”