Writing for a purpose | Year 4

💡Understand

An EXPLANATION tells us HOW or WHY something happens, usually in a logical order. A REPORT gives organised information about a topic, often with headings and clear sections. Both are non-fiction, but an explanation focuses on a PROCESS, while a report gives a broader overview.

“Explanation: 'Rain forms when water vapour rises, cools, and condenses into droplets that fall as rain.' Report: 'Rainfall in the UK: Average annual rainfall is 1,150mm. The wettest regions are in the west, particularly Wales and Scotland.'”

The explanation focuses on the PROCESS (how rain forms, step by step). The report gives an ORGANISED OVERVIEW of a topic (rainfall facts and figures), often with headings — a different structure entirely.

🔍Spot it

Is this an explanation or a report?

Question 1

"Volcanoes erupt when pressure builds beneath the Earth's crust and forces magma upward."

💡 This describes HOW something happens, step by step — an explanation.

Question 2

"Volcanoes: Facts — There are over 1,500 active volcanoes worldwide. Most are found along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire'."

💡 This gives organised, factual information about a topic — a report.

Question 3

"Plants grow toward light because a hormone called auxin builds up on the shaded side, causing it to grow faster."

💡 This explains WHY something happens — an explanation.

🧠Think about it

Why might an explanation often use words like 'because', 'when' and 'as a result', while a report is more likely to use headings and bullet points?

✍️Try it

What type of writing is this?

Butterflies begin as eggs, hatch into caterpillars, form a chrysalis, and finally emerge as adult butterflies.

Question 1

What type of writing is this?

💡 This describes a step-by-step process, in order.

📝Practise

Identify the correct type of writing for each example.

Question 1

"Sharks: Species — Over 500 known species. Habitat — Found in every ocean."

Question 2

"Ice melts when its temperature rises above 0°C, causing the solid to turn into liquid water."

Question 3

"Come and join our reading club — you'll discover amazing new stories every week!"

Question 4

In one word, what does an explanation mainly focus on describing?

💡 It's contrasted with a report's broader overview in this lesson.

Question 5

"Rainforests: Location — Mostly near the equator. Wildlife — Home to over half of the world's species."

Question 6

"Bread rises because yeast produces gas bubbles as it feeds on sugar in the dough."

🎯Apply

Read the passage, then answer the questions below.

Tides occur because the Moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans, causing the water to bulge outward. As the Earth rotates, different areas pass through this bulge, creating the rise and fall we call high and low tide.

Question 1

What type of writing is this passage?

💡 It describes WHY tides happen, step by step.

Question 2

What causes tides, according to the passage?

Question 3

What causes different areas to experience high and low tide?

💡 It's mentioned in the second sentence.

🏆Challenge

Can you write two or three sentences explaining WHY something happens (like why leaves change colour in autumn)?

🔄Review

A quick mastery check — 3 questions.

Question 1

"Dolphins: Diet — Mainly fish and squid. Lifespan — Up to 50 years in the wild."

Question 2

"Thunder occurs because lightning rapidly heats the air, causing it to expand and create sound waves."

Question 3

What is the main difference between an explanation and a report?