Enable Year 6 pupils to demonstrate secure subject knowledge through clear, independently written explanations.
This resource focuses on explanation writing, asking pupils to explain how light travels using precise scientific understanding and an appropriate level of formality. It provides structured opportunities to gather evidence against the KS2 TAF for working towards, expected and greater depth standards.
The pack supports purposeful cross-curricular writing by combining science content with explicit attention to organisation, cohesion and grammatical choices. Pupils draw on their learning from a unit on light to explain processes clearly and logically, rather than simply describing what happens.
Pupils are supported through success criteria, planning tools and editing checklists, while teachers are provided with clear assessment materials. This aligns with statutory guidance that writing used for teacher assessment must be produced independently, with prompts and criteria used to support understanding rather than model outcomes.
This activity is well-suited to the end of a science unit on light, allowing pupils to apply technical vocabulary, explain cause and effect and organise information effectively. Pupils may also include diagrams to support clarity, reflecting authentic scientific explanation.
TAF statements covered
Working Towards Standard (WTS)
- Organise ideas into paragraphs
- Use simple organisational features in non-narrative writing, such as headings or bullet points, to support the reader
Expected Standard (EXS)
- Select vocabulary and grammatical structures that suit the purpose of the writing, including passive constructions and some formal language
- Use a range of cohesive devices, such as conjunctions and adverbials, within and across paragraphs
Greater Depth Standard (GDS)
- Maintain confident and consistent control of formality through deliberate grammatical and vocabulary choices
Pack contents
- Personal writing skills checklist – supports pupils in setting their own editing priorities
- Explanation writing checklist (light) – feature-based guidance for independent editing, without modelled examples
- How to write an explanation poster – outlines the key characteristics of explanatory texts
- Cohesive devices poster – examples of language used to link ideas and sequence information
- Formal writing poster – guidance on achieving an appropriate scientific register
- Light question cards – diagrams and prompts to support discussion and subject recall
- True or false cards – statements to encourage scientific reasoning and clarification
- Planning sheet – supports structured organisation of ideas and headings
- Themed writing paper – for drafting the final explanation
- Teacher assessment sheets – used to record evidence against Year 6 writing TAF statements
Suggested teaching approach
Revisit key learning from the unit on light using discussion prompts and question cards. Introduce the features of explanation writing, focusing on clarity, sequencing and formal language. Pupils will plan their explanations using headings and notes, supported by the planning sheet and checklists.
Pupils then draft their explanation independently, applying technical vocabulary, cohesive devices and appropriate grammatical structures. Editing takes place using the feature checklists, either independently or with a peer, without teacher modelling. Teachers assess the completed writing against the Year 6 TAF statements using the provided assessment materials.
Browse more Year 6 SATs TAF Evidence resources.