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Year 4

The features of an explanation text

I can identify the important features of an explanation text.

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Year 4

The features of an explanation text

I can identify the important features of an explanation text.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An explanation text is a non-fiction text providing information about how or why something works.
  2. The structure of an explanation text is an introduction, a sequence of paragraphs in chronological order and a closing.
  3. Vocabulary used in an explanation text is subject-specific, factual and the tone is usually formal.
  4. Conjunctions ensure cohesion within sentences and paragraphs.
  5. Explanation texts are written in the present tense.

Keywords

  • Explanation text - a text providing information about how or why something works

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

  • Fronted adverbial - a sentence starter followed by a comma

  • Subordinating conjunction - a word that starts a subordinate clause

  • Adverbial clause - a type of subordinate clause that starts with a subordinating conjunction

Common misconception

Pupils think that 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 4 english lesson on: The features of an explanation text, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Provide the children with some examples of explanation texts that they can analyse in small groups, looking for the specific features taught in this lesson.
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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.
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
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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

Q2.
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.
Correct answer: A non-fiction text will often include a glossary.
Q3.
Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
Correct answer: Digestion is the process of breaking down food in the body.
digestion is the process of breaking down food in the body.
digestion is the process of breaking down food in the body
Digestion is the process of breaking down Food in the body.
Q4.
What is subject-specific vocabulary?
vocabulary used in a fairytale
Correct answer: vocabulary used when writing about a particular subject
vocabulary that is exciting and descriptive
Q5.
Which sentence has the comma accurately punctuated?
In the, afternoon we went swimming.
Correct answer: In the afternoon, we went swimming.
In, the afternoon we went swimming.
In the afternoon we went swimming.
Q6.
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

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the purpose of an explanation text?
to tell an entertaining story
to persuade the reader of a certain viewpoint
Correct answer: to provide information about how or why something works
Q2.
Select the subject-specific vocabulary that you are likely to use when writing an explanation text about the human digestive system.
Correct answer: oesophagus
beautiful
Correct answer: stomach
Correct answer: intestines
gargantuan
Q3.
Order these sections of an explanation text in the order you would write them.
1 - Introduction
2 - Section 1
3 - Section 2
4 - Conclusion
Q4.
What is a subordinating conjunction?
Correct answer: a word that starts an adverbial clause
a word that joins two main clauses to make a compound sentence
a word that describes a noun
Q5.
Which of the following are examples of ordering fronted adverbials?
Correct answer: First,
Correct answer: Then,
And
Correct answer: Finally,
However,
Q6.
Select an appropriate subordinating conjunction to complete the following sentence. " __________ the food is being chewed by the teeth, it is mixed together with a watery fluid called saliva."
Correct answer: As
Correct answer: While
When
Before