Lesson video

Hi everyone, it's Ms. Clark here and I'm really excited to be teaching your English lesson today.

In today's lesson, you are going to be writing the introduction to your explanation text all about how the human digestive system works.

I can't wait to see what you write.

So let's get started.

In today's learning, you are going to begin writing your explanation text.

So the outcome for today's lesson is, I can write the introduction of an explanation text to explain how the digestive system works.

Here are our keywords for today's learning.

My turn, your turn, digestion, introduction, relative pronoun, relative clause, relative complex sentence.

Well done, let's have a look at what those words mean.

Digestion, so what this explanation text is all about.

Digestion is the process of breaking down food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

The introduction is the opening paragraph of a nonfiction text that encourages the reader to read on.

That's what we're going to be writing today.

A relative pronoun is a word that starts a relative clause, like who or which.

A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause that starts with a relative pronoun, so starts with who or which.

and a relative complex sentence is a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause.

So in today's learning, we are going to try and include a relative complex sentence when writing our introduction.

Here is our lesson outline.

We have two parts to today's learning.

Our first part, we are going to be preparing to write.

We always prepare to write by thinking about what we need to include and saying our sentences out loud to practise.

And then our second part of today's learning is to write the introduction.

So let's go, this explanation text can be structured into four sections.

Introduction section one, which is all about what happens when food enters the body.

Section two is all about what happens when food leaves the stomach.

And a conclusion.

In this lesson today, we are writing the introduction.

When we write, no matter what part we are doing, we always try to do these things, plan and say each sentence before we write it.

If you just start to write, you will make mistakes or you won't include all of the amazing grammar and vocabulary that you know and want to use.

So it's really important to plan each sentence and practise saying the sentence out loud so it's in our heads.

Use punctuation where we know the rules.

Don't go put in commas anywhere.

Only use punctuation, when you know that there is a rule.

Showcase, that means show off, every sentence type we know.

Don't just write in simple sentences.

Try and use a range of sentence types, compound sentences, complex sentences to show off everything you know.

We need to write letters neatly on the line and in jointed up handwriting.

And use spelling strategies to help you just spell words accurately, especially when writing a non-fiction text, an explanation text, there will be some subject specific vocabulary that you might not know how to spell.

So really use your spelling strategies to try and help you.

And check and improve our writing when we think we have finished.

Don't just sit there saying, "I finished".

Go back, look, can you improve it? Can you improve your vocabulary choices? Can you add some extra information and detail? So first, let's plan what we are going to write in our introduction.

There are some general facts that the reader needs to know about the digestive system.

General facts means general information, not providing the specifics about what is happening in the process, but just a general overview of the process.

So the reader needs to know these things.

Digestion is the process of breaking down food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

There's a general overview of what digestion is.

They need to know the human digestive system is complex and involves multiple processes and parts.

They need to know that the oesophagus, stomach, and intestines are a key to the digestive process.

We are not going to go in explaining what all of these organs do specifically, but just an overview of the organs and elements that are involved in the process.

And they need to know that the process of digestion is how humans are able to receive the nutrients they need from food.

So these are our key general facts that we want to include in our introduction.

Let's check your understanding.

Which of these are true about the process of digestion? A, it is a complex, natural process.

B, digestion happens simply and quickly.

C, it is the process of breaking down food within the body.

D, specific parts of the human body are key to the process.

Which of these are true? There might be more than one.

Have a think, pause the video, and make your choice.

Okay, well done.

Absolutely, it is a complex natural process.

It is the process of breaking down food within the body and specific parts of the body are key to the process.

It does not happen simply and quickly, well done.

Our explanation text needs to start with a title.

The title tells the reader what the text is about.

The title of the explanation text should be eye catching, something the reader will be interested in, want to find out more.

It should encourage the reader to read the whole text.

It should be underlined and centrally aligned.

Centrally aligned means in the middle of the page.

And it should be capitalised.

Every word in a title needs to have a capital letter.

Let's look at some examples.

Here's one, How the Human Digestive System Works.

You can see it centrally aligned.

It tells us what the text will be about.

The Amazing Human Digestive System, you can see every word is capitalised.

That is quite eye-catching, it will make you want to read on.

Or you could just have, The Human Digestive System.

That encourages the reader to read on if they want to find out about how this process works.

The purpose of the introduction is to give the reader the most basic, most general, information about the subject, not going into specifics in the introduction.

Tell the reader what they're going to read about.

Inspire the reader to read on, make it sound exciting, amazing, so the reader wants to continue to read the text.

The first sentence of the instruction must be general, not giving specifics, but a general outline.

Let's check your understanding.

True or false, this sentence would open an introduction? After arriving in the small intestine, the partly digested food encounters enzymes that have been secreted there.

Would that come in an introduction? Is it general and does it give you an overview of what the text is about? Is that true, yes it would? Or false no, it wouldn't? Have a think, pause the video, off you go.

Okay, well done.

Well done if you said false, great job.

It would not come in an introduction.

Let's justify our answer.

A, specific and detailed facts about the subject come later in the report.

Or B, the introduction opens with a specific fact.

Pause the video and choose one.

Well done, if you said, A specific and detailed facts about the subject come later in the report, great job.

The introduction should include the following features, a defining sentence on digestion to open the text, a general fact about the subject introducing key scientific vocabulary, a brief explanation of why the process is important.

An outline of what will be learned through reading the text.

So what is digestion? We need to explain it.

So we need to know what it means, what it is.

Digestion is a noun.

It is the process of breaking down food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

We need to turn this definition into an introductory sentence.

We can make the sentence more appealing to the reader by using an expanded noun phrase to describe the process.

I bet you've heard expanded noun phrase before or ENP as we sometimes call it.

Where you have two adjectives to describe the noun that gives us a bit more detail about that noun.

We know that digestion is not a simple process.

We know it takes place naturally in the human body.

Nothing needs to be done, it's a natural process, something that happens because our bodies are designed that way.

We can use ENPs or expanded noun phrases to describe digestion.

Here's an example, the complicated, natural process.

So rather than just saying the process of digestion, we're adding to that by giving two adjectives to describe, specific adjectives, complicated, natural process.

Or here's another example, the intricate, human process.

Or the complex, biological function.

All of these expanded noun phrases describe digestion.

The listed adjectives describe digestion in more detail.

And synonyms, so words that mean the same or similar to another word.

So synonyms are used to refer to the noun in different ways.

So you could call it a process or a function that's a different way of referring to the noun.

Let's have a go.

I would like you to say the first sentence aloud using the definition of digestion and an expanded noun phrase.

So I'm giving you the definition for digestion and you need to turn that into your first opening introductory sentence.

Digestion is the process of breaking down food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

I'm giving you a sentence scaffold to help you.

Digestion is the, blank, comma, blank process of breaking down food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

You need to choose two words, precise words, to go in there to describe the process.

Pause the video and say the sentence aloud with the two words included.

Off you go.

Okay, well done.

I wish I could hear all of your sentences.

My words that I chose were complex and natural.

I'm now going to say my whole sentence aloud.

Digestion is the complex, natural process of breaking down food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

That's going to be my first sentence of my introduction.

Hopefully you now have your first sentence for your introduction.

The introduction should also include general facts while also highlighting why digestion is an important subject.

So why it's important to learn about and why it's important to us as humans.

Here's an example.

The digestive system, comma, which is crucial for human survival and growth, comma, involves many elements.

This is an example of a relative complex sentence that was one of our key words and a type of sentence that we really, really want to try and include in our introduction today.

The relative pronoun, one of our keywords, which has been used to embed a relative clause within our main clause.

So you've got the main clause.

The digestive system involves many elements, and then you've got your relative clause with that relative pronoun embedded within the sentence.

This allows us to add more detail about the proceeding noun and its importance.

So the proceeding noun in this sentence is the digestive system, and then we add extra detail and information by embedding that relative clause, which is crucial for human survival and growth.

A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause that starts with a relative pronoun.

Here's some examples.

Who need the nutrients from food in order to survive? Would that make sense by itself? No, it wouldn't.

We've also got, which is a fundamental part of human survival and growth.

Both of these are examples of relative clauses and they start with a relative pronoun who and which.

Who is used when the relative clause is about a person.

Which is used when the relative clause is not about a person.

So in our writing, we're writing about a process, the human digestive system or the process of human digestion.

So we will need to use the relative pronoun which.

Let's check your understanding.

Can you tick the examples of relative clauses? A, as the food moves down the oesophagus.

B, which is crucial for human survival.

C, which are wrinkled and folded.

D, once the food reaches the stomach.

Pause the video and tick the examples of relative clauses.

Off you go.

Okay, well done for having a go at that task.

Well done, if you ticked B and C, both of these are examples of relative clauses and they start with a relative pronoun, which, great job.

A relative clause follows a noun or a noun phrase to add extra relevant information about it.

Let's have a look.

Stomach walls which are wrinkled and folded help this organ to digest food.

Stomach walls is our noun, which are wrinkled and folded is our relative clause, which adds more information about the stomach walls.

Here's another example.

The oesophagus our noun, which is a long muscular tube, that's our relative clause, which adds extra information about the oesophagus.

The oesophagus, which is a long muscular tube contracts and relaxes to push food downwards to the stomach.

In a relative complex sentence, the relative clause can interrupt the main clause after the noun or noun phrase it links to.

So here is a main clause.

The digestive system involves many elements.

That's our main clause.

It can make sense by itself.

Let's see what it looks like with a relative clause embedded into it.

The digestive system, which is crucial for humans' survival and growth, involves many elements.

So the relative clause there in purple interrupted the main clause.

So then can see the main clause is broken up into two parts, the digestive system and involves many elements.

And that relative clause is interrupted in there to provide more information about the noun or noun phrase, When you have main subordinate, main, just like in this example sentence here, you have written a relative complex sentence.

Say it back.

Relative complex sentence.

And your teachers will be so impressed if you can try and use one of them today.

Let's check your understanding.

Select two appropriate relative clauses to embed within the following main clause.

The digestive system, hmm, involves many elements.

Which one could go in there? Which two could go in there? A, who is important for human survival.

B, which is an essential human function.

C, which is crucial for human survival and growth.

Remember, this relative clause needs to provide extra information about the noun or noun phrase.

So the digestive system.

Make your choice, pause the video.

Off you go.

Okay, welcome back.

Well done, if you said B.

We could have written B, the digestive system, which is an essential human function, involves many elements, brilliant.

Or C, the digestive system, which is crucial for human survival and growth, involves many elements.

We only use who when we are writing about a person.

The digestive system is not a person.

Great job, it's time for your first task.

And as we said right at the start of this lesson, it's really important to practise saying your sentences before writing them.

So you are going to practise saying the first two sentences of your introduction.

Make sure you include the following, a defining sentence of digestion using an ENP to describe it.

And there I've given you the definition there to help you.

A general fact using a relative clause to add more detail.

Just like we practised.

So here's a sentence scaffold you might want to use.

Remember main subordinate main will make a relative complex sentence and that's what we're trying to create.

So off you go.

Tell somebody at home, tell a partner or just say it to the screen.

Two sentences, off you go.

Okay, well done for saying your sentences out loud.

I wish I could hear all of them.

So holding those sentences you've just said in your head, can you check, did your first sentence define digestion and include an ENP, did you use two adjectives? And did you offer a general fact about the subject including a relative clause using which.

If you don't think you did those things, you could pause the video and have another go now.

But if you did really, really well done, here was my first few sentences.

Digestion is the complex, natural process of breaking down food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Can see I use my ENP there, yes.

The human digestive system, which is a crucial part of all human survival and growth, has many elements.

I included my general fact including a relative clause there and I said one more sentence as well.

Specific parts of the body like the oesophagus, stomach, and intestines are key to the digestive system and they work together to complete the process.

I gave one more sentence providing some information about the key body parts involved in the process.

Fantastic job everybody.

Okay, let's move on now to the second learning cycle where we are going to be writing the introduction to our explanation text.

Here is our success criteria, our success criteria we should be using when writing to check we have included all of the things we want to include to make it a really successful piece of writing.

So let's have a look at what we want to try and include today.

I have written the title and the subheading, introduction.

So we need a title to the whole text and we also need a subheading saying, introduction.

I have written a sentence defining digestion using an ENP.

I have written a general fact about the digestive process.

I have used a relative pronoun, which to write a relative complex sentence.

And I have outlined what will be covered in the explanation text.

We are gonna try include all of these things today.

So we're going to start off slowly by doing the first two parts of our success criteria.

I would like you to get ready, get your pencil, your paper, your pen, and write the title and the first sentence of your introduction.

So you need to write your main title.

Remember it should be capitalised and centralised.

And then you need to write the subheading, introduction.

Then I would like you to write your first sentence, which is a sentence defining digestion, using an ENP.

General checks include capital letters and full stops, neat handwriting, and punctuation for the rules you know.

I've given you the definition for digestion here.

So you can use that to help you to write your first sentence.

Title, subheading, first sentence.

Pause the video, and off you go.

Amazing, well done for having a go at starting off your introduction.

I am so impressed.

So hopefully you wrote a title.

Yours might be different to mine, The Human Digestive System.

Maybe you wrote The Amazing Human Digestive Process.

Well done if you wrote your title, you centralised it, and you had your capital letters for every word.

Then you should have left aligned your subheading, which is introduction.

That should also be underlined with a ruler.

If you have done both those things, you can give yourself a tick in that success criteria.

Then I am looking for your introductory sentence, defining digestion using an ENP.

Let's read mine.

Digestion is the complex, natural process of breaking down food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

I can see my ENP there, complex comma natural process.

So I get a tick.

Can you check yours? Have you used an ENP? If not, pause the video and add it in now and then you can give yourself a tick in your first two success criteria, well done.

So your task now is to write the whole introduction of the explanation text about how the digestive system works.

Remember, I have written a general fact about the digestive process.

In that sentence, can you use a relative pronoun which to write a relative complex sentence? And I have outlined what will be covered in the explanation text.

Remember, main subordinate main, is a relative complex sentence.

So you need to use that relative pronoun which to add extra information.

Here are some key things to help you.

You might use this, this information text will teach you about.

Section one is going to be about what happens when food enters the body.

And section two, what happens when food leaves the stomach.

You are not writing these sections now, but you are telling the reader what they will learn about.

Here are some words, some subject specific vocabulary that you might need to include, crucial, survival, oesophagus, stomach, intestines.

I'm so excited to read them.

Pause the video, say your sentences out loud and then write your introduction.

Off you go.

Okay, well done everyone.

Let's have a look at my introduction and then mark off the success criteria.

Then you can do the same with yours.

So we already had our title centralised and capitalised, and the subheading, introduction.

I'm going to read my introduction to you now and then we will check it against our success criteria.

Digestion is the complex natural process of breaking down food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

The human digestive system, which is a crucial part of all human survival and growth, has many elements.

Specific parts of the body like the oesophagus, stomach, and intestines are key to the digestive system and they work together to complete the process.

This explanation text will educate you about what happens when food enters the body and when it leaves the stomach.

Let's check, I have written a general fact about the digestive process.

Yes, I have.

The first two sentences are general facts about the process.

I have used the relative pronoun, which, to write a relative complex sentence.

Ah, I can see which there.

The human digestive system, which is a crucial part of all human survival and growth.

I have done that.

I have outlined what will be covered in the explanation text.

I've said this explanation text will educate you about, yes, I have.

Can you now read through your introduction and tick off your success criteria and now is a really good time for you to also add in anything you may have missed.

Off you go, pause the video.

Okay, well done everybody.

I wish I could read everything you have written today.

We've done lots of amazing learning and you've done some fantastic writing.

You should be very, very proud of yourselves.

So let's look at a summary of what we've learned today.

We've learned that the purpose of an introduction is to give general facts about the topic and tell the reader what they will learn.

We've learned that digestion is the process of breaking down food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

We've learned that the relative pronoun, which, can be used to embed a relative clause within a main clause to add extra detail.

And we've learned that a relative complex sentence is formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause separated by commas.

Amazing learning today and well done.

I hope to see you again really soon.