This Year 3 writing unit from our Real Writing collection is based on an original model text by published children’s author Jo Franklin. Pupils will explore an explanation text in the form of an illustrated poster that describes the cyclical process of the life of a flowering plant.
All texts in the Real Writing series are written by experienced children’s authors, and each unit follows a carefully mapped framework, providing two to three weeks of detailed lesson planning to support teachers with step-by-step delivery.
Curriculum links
This unit explicitly covers Year 3 writing objectives, including:
- exploring words ending in -tion
- joining clauses and sentences using causal conjunctions
- creating expanded noun phrases
- using subordination
- applying adverbs
- writing with conjunctions to show time or cause
Pupils will also practise past and present tense and commas for lists. The unit links directly to the science curriculum topic ‘plants’, giving pupils the opportunity to integrate writing with scientific knowledge.
Vocabulary
Pupils will encounter a carefully chosen mix of Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary alongside statutory spelling words:
- Tier 2: moisture, formation, essential
- Tier 3: pollination, reproduction, germinate, nutrients, photosynthesis, dispersed
- Statutory Year 3/4 spelling words: circle, natural
Use word cards, vocabulary-matching activities and contextual discussion to help pupils infer meanings and apply these words accurately in their writing.
Resources
Teachers receive a range of fully prepared materials, including:
- Model text in PDF (plain, illustrated, annotated)
- Annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations
- Activity sheets for vocabulary, grammar and writing
- Word cards for Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary
- Report margin planners and instructional sheets
Key teaching activities
The unit begins with a hook activity in which pupils view a time-lapse video of a plant growing from a seed to maturity or act out the stages physically.
Pupils will read the model text together, identifying its features, verb tenses, conjunctions, adverbs and headings. Pupils will describe plant growth in sequenced paragraphs, using precise vocabulary and formal tone.
They will practise using causal conjunctions to join clauses and write their own explanatory texts, drawing on the model text and their own observations.
Pupils will also explore how familiar stories could be rewritten as explanation texts using present tense and precise vocabulary. Regular proofreading and editing ensure pupils refine grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.
Outcomes
By the end of this unit, pupils will be able to:
- Identify and use the key features of explanation texts
- Apply subject-specific vocabulary accurately
- Write clear, sequenced explanatory texts about plant life cycles
- Use grammar, punctuation and spelling independently
- Link English writing skills to science concepts
This unit helps pupils write with clarity and purpose while consolidating essential Year 3 curriculum skills in English and science.