EnglishFreePrintable

Explanation Writing Practice

A free english worksheet ready for your classroom. Open in Kuraplan to grab the print-ready PDF, customize it for your students, or generate a fresh version in seconds.

Download now

Name:Date:

Explanation Writing Practice

Read the seed-growth information, practise identifying explanation features, then plan and write your own explanation. Use facts and linking words to make your ideas clear.

Understand explanation writing

An explanation tells how or why something happens. It usually introduces the topic, presents connected facts in a logical order, and finishes with a concluding idea. Linking words show how ideas relate. Seed-growth information: A seed takes in water and its covering may split. A root grows out first, before the first leaves appear. Then a shoot grows upwards.

1.Which sentence would best introduce an explanation of how a seed becomes a seedling?

Seeds come in many shapes and colours.
A seed becomes a seedling through a series of changes.
My favourite plant has bright flowers.

2.Choose the three words or phrases that can link ideas in an explanation.

therefore
next
for instance
purple
quickly

3.Match each linking word to the job it can do in an explanation.

because
for example
next
therefore

shows what happens afterwards
gives a reason
introduces an example
introduces a result or conclusion

4.Use a fact about seed growth to complete this sentence: A seed begins to sprout when ...

5.According to the seed-growth information, what grows out of the seed first: the root or the leaves?

Plan your explanation

Plan an explanation answering: How does a seed grow into a seedling? Use the seed-growth information and the word bank to help organise your ideas. A seed takes in water, its covering may split, a root grows downwards, and a shoot grows upwards before leaves appear. Word bank: first, after that, because, for instance, as a result, finally.

6.Write a topic sentence that tells the reader what your explanation will explain.

7.Choose three linking words from the word bank that could help show the order or connection between your ideas. Write them here.

8.Write two accurate facts about what happens as a seed sprouts and grows.

9.Give one example of a condition or resource that helps a seed grow, and explain how it helps.

10.Write a concluding sentence that sums up how a seed becomes a seedling.

Write and check

Use your plan to write one explanation paragraph. Include a clear opening, linked facts in a sensible order, an example, and a concluding sentence. Then check that your ideas are grouped clearly and that punctuation helps the reader.

11.Write an explanation paragraph describing how a seed grows into a seedling. Use at least three linking words and include facts and an example.

12.Extension: Write a second paragraph explaining what a seedling needs as it continues to grow. Use linking words such as consequently, in addition, or especially.