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Year 3

Identifying features of an explanation text in preparation for writing

I can identify important linguistic features of an explanation text.

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Year 3

Identifying features of an explanation text in preparation for writing

I can identify important linguistic features of an explanation text.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An explanation text is a non-fiction text that explains a particular process or subject in detail.
  2. An explanation text can start with an introduction and then explains a sequenced process in chronological order.
  3. Vocabulary within an explanation text is subject-specific and factual, creating a formal tone.
  4. Formal fronted adverbials, ordering fronted adverbials and fronted adverbials of cause are used to enhance text flow.
  5. Explanation texts are written in the present tense.

Keywords

  • Explanation - a set of details and reasons given about how a process works

  • Linguistic feature - a structure of language that uses words

  • Chronological order - follows the order in which a series of events happens

  • Subject-specific vocabulary - vocabulary used when writing about a particular subject

  • Fronted adverbial - a sentence starter followed by a comma

Common misconception

Explanation texts can be written in any order.

Explanation texts are written in chronological order; they explain a process in the order in which it happens.


To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Identifying features of an explanation text in preparation for writing, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Consolidate pupils' understanding of an explanation text by comparing it with other types of non-fiction text, such as a non-chronological report or newspaper report.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
honey bees are essential to the natural world.
Honey bees are essential to the natural world
Correct answer: Honey bees are essential to the natural world.
honey bees are essential to the natural world
Q2.
Match the word class to its definition.
Correct Answer:Noun,A naming word for people, places or things.
tick

A naming word for people, places or things.

Correct Answer:Verb,A doing or being word.
tick

A doing or being word.

Correct Answer:Adjective,A word that describes a noun.
tick

A word that describes a noun.

Correct Answer:Adverb,A word that describes a verb.
tick

A word that describes a verb.

Q3.
Which of these are true for non-fiction texts?
Correct answer: A non-fiction text is full of facts to inform the reader.
A non-fiction text is made up.
A non-fiction text has two characters who speak to each other.
Correct answer: There are different types of non-fiction text.
Q4.
What is a co-ordinating conjunction?
A word that starts a subordinate clause.
A word that describes a noun.
Correct answer: A word that joins two main clauses to form a compound sentence.
A word or words that can tell the reader where a noun is.
Q5.
Tick the fronted adverbial that is best suited to start this sentence: "One beehive can produce 27kg of honey."
Suddenly,
Correct answer: Interestingly,
With a smile,
As quick as a flash,
Q6.
Which sentence has the comma accurately punctuated?
In the, morning we played chess.
In the morning we played chess.
In, the morning, we played chess.
Correct answer: In the morning, we played chess.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a linguistic feature?
The way punctuation is used to show an emotion.
Correct answer: The way words are used in a sentence to make the meaning clear.
The size of words in a piece of text.
The way pictures are arranged in a report.
Q2.
Tick all of the words that are specific to the topic of honey bees.
Correct answer: hive
Correct answer: nectar
tree
soil
Correct answer: honeycomb
Q3.
What type of fronted adverbial is "As a result,"?
Viewpoint fronted adverbial.
Correct answer: Fronted adverbial of cause.
Ordering fronted adverbial.
Q4.
Which of the following are ordering fronted adverbials?
Correct answer: Finally,
Slowly,
Correct answer: First,
At once,
Q5.
Choose a fronted adverbial of cause that links these two sentences: "The honey bees flap their wings.' and 'The water evaporates."
In addition,
Correct answer: As a result,
Amazingly,
Suddenly,
Q6.
Order these steps of the honey-making process in chronological order.
1 - A bee collects nectar.
2 - The bee returns to the hive.
3 - The bees work in the hive.