Understand How Things Work
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Learning Objectives
- 1Read and understand explanatory texts that describe how a process works
- 2Identify the key stages in a process described in a text
- 3Label the parts of a diagram that shows how something works
Mini Lesson
Explanatory texts tell us how things work. They might explain a natural process like the water cycle, or how a machine or body system functions. Reading these texts carefully helps us understand the world around us.
Features of Explanatory Texts
- They use technical vocabulary — special words for that topic.
- They often include diagrams, labels, or arrows to show a process.
- They describe stages or steps in a clear order.
- They use connective words like first, then, next, and finally.
- They are written in present tense ("water evaporates", "the heart pumps").
The Water Cycle — A Key Example
- Evaporation: The sun heats water in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Liquid water turns into water vapor and rises into the air.
- Condensation: As water vapor rises higher, it cools down and turns back into tiny droplets of liquid water, forming clouds.
- Precipitation: When clouds hold too much water, it falls back to the ground as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
- Collection: Water collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans, and the cycle begins again.
When reading an explanatory text, look for the sequence of stages. Use a diagram to follow along — seeing how arrows connect each stage makes the process much clearer.
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