Study Guide
Informative Writing: Information Reports
Explains how Year 6 students structure and write an information report: the classification statement, description paragraphs with…
- Difficulty
- Level 2 · Standard
- Time
- 15 min
Writing PromptYear 6Level 2 · Standard
Free Year 6 Explain How It Works — Explanation Writing
Students write an explanation text that describes how a natural process or system works, such as the water cycle, how bees make honey or how a bushfire spreads. The plan breaks the process into ordered stages with cause-and-effect links, and the success criteria target the language features of explanations: sequencing words, causal connectives and technical vocabulary.
Instant download · No sign-up · Free for personal, classroom and homeschool use
- Year
- Year 6
- Subject
- English
- Topic
- Informative Writing
- Difficulty
- Level 2 · Standard
- Estimated time
- 40 minutes
- Curriculum
- Australian Curriculum
- Questions
- 6
- Answers
- Included, with working
- Format
- PDF (A4) + print
Students will practise
- sequencing a process in logical stages
- using cause-and-effect connectives
- defining and using technical vocabulary
- writing in a formal, objective voice
Curriculum: Australian Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.
What's next?
Completed: Explain How It Works — Explanation Writing
Ready for more? Move on to Year 7 English.
How to use this writing prompt
- Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
- Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
- Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
- Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.
Common questions
Who is this writing prompt for?
Year 6 students (typically ages 11–12) working on informative writing. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.
Are the answers included?
Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.
How long does it take?
About 40 minutes for 6 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.
Do I need to sign up to download?
No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.
What should we do next?
Explore more Year 6 english resources.
Preview
Year 6 · English · Informative Writing
Explain How It Works — Explanation Writing
Success Tutoring
Student name:
Date:
Plan the stages carefully, then write. Check that every stage has a 'because' or 'as a result'.
The prompt
Choose a natural process or system that you understand well, and write an explanation text that answers the question How does it work? or Why does it happen?
Some ideas: how the water cycle works, how bees make honey, why we have day and night, how a bushfire spreads, how a seed becomes a plant, how recycling turns a bottle into a new bottle.
A good explanation text has:
• A title written as a question or a 'How...' statement.
• A general statement that introduces the process and why it matters.
• A sequence of stages in order, each explaining what happens and why it happens.
• Cause-and-effect connectives: because, as a result, this causes, therefore, which means.
• Sequencing words: first, next, then, after that, finally.
• Technical vocabulary, defined the first time it is used.
• Written in the present tense and the third person; no opinions.
Plan
Put the stages in the right order before you write.
1.Process and title (as a question):
2.General statement (what the process is and why it matters):
3.Stages in order (3–5), each with a cause:
4.Technical words you will define:
5.Concluding statement (why it matters or an interesting fact):
Write
6.Write your explanation text with a title, a general statement, the stages in order and a concluding statement. Use subheadings or a new paragraph for each stage.
Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.
More Year 6 informative writing resources
Informative Writing in other year levels
- An Australian Animal — Information Report
Writing Prompt · Year 4 · Informative Writing · Level 1 · Easier
Was this resource helpful?
About this resource
- Created by
- Success Tutoring
- Last reviewed
- 1 October 2026
- How it was made
- Written by our team
Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.