Understand How Things Work
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What you will learn
- 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.
Words to know
Evaporation
Liquid water turning into water vapor when heated
e.g. Evaporation happens when the sun warms puddles after rain.
Condensation
Water vapor cooling and turning back into liquid water droplets
e.g. Condensation forms clouds high in the sky.
Precipitation
Water falling from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
e.g. Precipitation fills rivers and lakes with fresh water.
Collection
Water gathering in rivers, lakes, and oceans after precipitation
e.g. Collection is the final stage before evaporation starts the cycle 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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