Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 4

Writing the introduction of an explanation text about the digestive system

I can write the introduction of an explanation text to explain how the digestive system works.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 4

Writing the introduction of an explanation text about the digestive system

I can write the introduction of an explanation text to explain how the digestive system works.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An introduction's purpose is to give general facts about the topic and to tell the reader what they will learn.
  2. Digestion is the process of breaking down food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
  3. The scientific definition of digestion, and the use of scientific vocabulary, are essential for introducing the subject.
  4. The relative pronoun "which" can be used to embed a relative clause within a main clause to add detail.
  5. A relative complex sentence is formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause.

Common misconception

Pupils try to include specific facts in the introduction.

Emphasise that an introduction's purpose is to introduce the topic and should only include general facts.

Keywords

  • Digestion - the process of breaking down food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream

  • Introduction - the opening paragraph of a non-fiction text that encourages the reader to read on

  • Relative pronoun - a word that starts a relative clause like 'who' or 'which'

  • Relative clause - a type of subordinate clause that starts with a relative pronoun

  • Relative complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause

This unit is based on the knowledge children will already have from their science lessons. You may need to spend more time recapping some of this crucial knowledge before children start to write their explanation text.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

Skip video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
What does the digestive system do?
Correct answer: breaks down food into smaller particles that the body can use
pumps blood throughout the body
helps your arms and legs move
Q2.
What is the name of the long tube that links the mouth to the stomach?
The intestine
The pump
Correct answer: The oesophagus
Q3.
Match the parts of the digestive system to their jobs.
Correct Answer:stomach,breaks down food into small nutrients that the body can use

breaks down food into small nutrients that the body can use

Correct Answer:large intestine,absorbs water and passes out any food the body doesn't need

absorbs water and passes out any food the body doesn't need

Correct Answer:small intestine,breaks down food and absorbs nutrients

breaks down food and absorbs nutrients

Correct Answer:oesophagus,tube that takes food to the stomach

tube that takes food to the stomach

Q4.
Select the formal sentences which would be used in an explanation text.
Incredibly, this awesome part of the body can break up your food!
Correct answer: The human digestive system is a complex body system involving multiple processes
Food starts in the squishy, pink mouth.
Correct answer: As a result, the food becomes wet enough to be broken down into small pieces.
Q5.
Which of these words would be most appropriate to describe the oesophagus in an explanation text?
gargantuan
Correct answer: muscular
awesome
Correct answer: long
Q6.
Which sentence uses an apostrophe for possession correctly?
Correct answer: An adult’s stomach has a capacity of approximately 1.5 litres.
An adults stomach has a capacity of approximately 1.5 litres.
An adul'ts stomach has a capacity of approximately 1.5 litres.
An adults' stomach has a capacity of approximately 1.5 litres.

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Before writing our sentences down, we should the sentence out loud.
Correct Answer: say, Say
Q2.
What is the purpose of an introduction?
Correct answer: To inform the reader of the outline of the text.
To set the scene for the reader.
To summarise the key points from the text.
Correct answer: To give brief, general facts about the subject of the text.
Q3.
Which is an example of an expanded noun phrase?
the process
Correct answer: the complex, biological function
digestion is the long, complex process of breaking down food
Q4.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:relative pronoun, word that starts a relative clause like 'who' or 'which'

word that starts a relative clause like 'who' or 'which'

Correct Answer:relative clause,type of subordinate clause, starts with a relative pronoun

type of subordinate clause, starts with a relative pronoun

Correct Answer:relative complex sentence,sentence formed of main clause & relative subordinate clause

sentence formed of main clause & relative subordinate clause

Q5.
Which sentences would be found in the introduction of an explanation text about the human digestive system?
The partly-digested food encounters enzymes that have been secreted there.
Correct answer: Digestion is the complex, natural process of breaking down food into particles.
First, food enters the body through the mouth.
Correct answer: This explanation text will educate you about what happens in our bodies.
Q6.
Which of these are true about the process of digestion?
Correct answer: It is a complex, natural process.
Digestion happens simply and quickly.
Correct answer: It is the process of breaking down food within the body.
Correct answer: Specific parts of the human body are key to the process.