---
title: "Correlation vs Causation"
description: "Two things happening together doesn't mean one caused the other — recognise the difference between correlation and causation before drawing conclusions"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/correlation-vs-causation-mt_X0Tr8IYaEd
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/correlation-vs-causation-mt_X0Tr8IYaEd.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Correlation vs Causation

Two things happening together doesn't mean one caused the other — recognise the difference between correlation and causation before drawing conclusions

Subject: Science · Area: Scientific Inquiry · Ages 8 to 10
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/correlation-vs-causation-mt_X0Tr8IYaEd

## Ready when they can

- developmental changes in children's recognition of evidence relevance to causal explanations
- causal learning research

## Lesson: Correlation vs Causation

Sometimes two things happen at the same time, or one follows right after the other. It's easy to think one made the other happen. But that's not always true. When two things just happen together, we call that a correlation.

Causation is different. Causation means one thing truly makes the other happen. Two things can be correlated without either one causing the other.

*(drawing: Ice cream sales and sunburns both go up in summer. That's a correlation, not one causing the other.)*

**Example.** Many kids who eat breakfast also get good grades. Does breakfast cause good grades? Maybe, but maybe those kids also get more sleep, and sleep helps grades too. There could be another reason behind both.

**Tip.** Before you say one thing caused another, ask yourself: could something else explain both things?

**Recap.** Two things happening together doesn't prove one caused the other. Always look for another explanation.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Describing Rules & Patterns](https://lightmysky.com/learn/learning-to-learn/describing-rules-and-patterns-mt_hbe_kdE_7C)
- [Could there be another explanation?](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/could-there-be-another-explanation-mt_QrVF5n7vci)

## Opens up

- [Science Can Be Revised](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/science-can-be-revised-mt_1GVAmcwAiO)
- [Evidence Supporting Ideas](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/evidence-supporting-ideas-mt_AstzvYDU2m)
- [Non-Communicable Disease and What Counts as a Risk Factor](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/non-communicable-disease-and-what-counts-as-a-risk-factor-mt_IciZ1CJn6h)
- [Testing a New Drug: Controls, Placebo and the Blind Trial](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/testing-a-new-drug-controls-placebo-and-the-blind-trial-mt_If6qHIrOxT)
- [Drawing conclusions from evidence (age 9+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/drawing-conclusions-from-evidence-age-9-mt_nyPMkeHlVJ)
- [How a Chart Can Mislead](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/how-a-chart-can-mislead-mt_z7yMoRWipf)