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 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:
- 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
- Identifies a thing the author says you should do or believe.
- Finds the reason given for it.
- Uses because to join the two.
What you need
- A short text that tells you to do something and says why
- Two coloured cards: WHAT and WHY
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — why should I?
4 min- Tell them to put their coats on. Wait for someone to ask why.
- Give the reason. Name what just happened: you said a thing, and then you said why.
Teach — what, and why
10 min- Read a text that tells you to brush your teeth twice a day.
- Hold up the WHAT card and say the instruction.
- Hold up the WHY card and find the reason in the text: clean teeth stay strong.
- Do a second one. Then find a sentence that is a fact with no reason attached, and hold up neither card.
- Name the difference: some sentences tell you something, and some tell you why.
“The author did not just tell us to do it. They said why. Find the why.”
Guided practice — hold up a card
8 min- Read out six sentences from the text. Pairs hold up WHAT, WHY or neither.
- Settle any that split the room by rereading the sentence before it.
Independent practice
6 min- Students complete the reasons page.
- Read the passage aloud twice.
Close
2 min- Give a WHAT from the text and ask the class for the WHY.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Gives their own reason rather than the author's.
Why: They have one, it is reasonable, and the question did not say whose reason.
Fix: Add 'what does the BOOK say?' to every asking, and require the page.
Treats any following sentence as the reason.
Why: Reasons usually do follow, so position is a plausible rule.
Fix: Test it with because. If 'X because Y' sounds wrong, Y is not the reason, and the sound is what tells them.
Cannot find a reason because the text gives none.
Why: Not every claim in an information text is supported, and the child assumes one must be.
Fix: Include a text with an unsupported claim on purpose and say so. Noticing an absent reason is the more advanced skill.
If they are not there yet
- Give the WHAT and ask only for the WHY.
- Use a text where the reason is in the same sentence.
If they finish early
- Find two reasons for one point.
- Ask whether the reason is a good one.
- Find a point in the text with no reason given.
Exit ticket
The book says to do something. What does it say, and why does it say so?
What to look for: The reason must come from the book. A sensible reason of their own is the exact thing this lesson is for.
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?Read the text, then answer the questions.
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?
A short text that tells you to do something and says why, two coloured cards: WHAT and WHY 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 their own reason rather than the author's; treats any following sentence as the reason and cannot find a reason because the text gives none. 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: “The book says to do something. What does it say, and why does it say so?.” The reason must come from the book. A sensible reason of their own is the exact thing this lesson is for. 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 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to RI.K.8 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.