teaching resource

Explanation Writing Project – Earth and Space Phenomena

Updated: 27 Jul 2026

Get your students producing high-quality explanation writing with this fully scaffolded writing project, where students research, organise and publish an explanation text about an Earth and Space phenomenon.

Editable: Google Slides
Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 12 Pages
Years: 5 - 6

Curriculum

AC9E5LA03

Describe how spoken, written and multimodal texts use language features and are typically organised into characteristic stages and phases, depending on purposes in texts
AC9E5LY03

Explain characteristic features used in imaginative, informative and persuasive texts to meet the purpose of the text
AC9E5LY06

Plan, create, edit and publish written and multimodal texts whose purposes may be imaginative, informative and persuasive, developing ideas using visual features, text structure appropriate to the topic and purpose, text connectives, expanded noun groups, specialist and technical vocabulary, and pu
AC9E6LA03

Explain how texts across the curriculum are typically organised into characteristic stages and phases depending on purposes, recognising how authors often adapt text structures and language features
AC9E6LY03

Analyse how text structures and language features work together to meet the purpose of a text, and engage and influence audiences
AC9E6LY06

Plan, create, edit and publish written and multimodal texts whose purposes may be imaginative, informative and persuasive, using paragraphs, a variety of complex sentences, expanded verb groups, tense, topic-specific and vivid vocabulary, punctuation, spelling and visual features

teaching resource

Explanation Writing Project – Earth and Space Phenomena

Updated: 27 Jul 2026

Editable: Google Slides
Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 12 Pages
Years: 5 - 6

Exploring Earth and Space Phenomena Through Explanation Writing

Teaching explanation writing becomes even more engaging when students explore real processes they observe in the world around them.

This writing project has been expertly designed by our experienced team to guide your students through the process of writing a high-quality explanation text about an Earth and Space phenomenon of their choice. The resource download includes everything you’ll need to implement this project in one handy PDF or Google Slides file:

Student instructions
Model text about what causes the seasons
Analysis worksheets
Planning and research graphic organisers
Drafting paper
Editing checklist
Assessment rubric

Whether students investigate eclipses, day and night, the phases of the Moon or another Earth and Space phenomenon, this project provides a meaningful way to strengthen literacy skills while inspiring curiosity about the world beyond Earth.

Scaffolded Analysis, Planning and Writing for Student Success

This resource has been intentionally designed by our team to bring out the best in your young writers through scaffolded support and the use of a high-quality and age-appropriate model text.

Here are some of the ways this resource sets your students up to succeed in their writing:

Following a structured process makes explanation writing more manageable.
Analysing a sample text helps clarify expectations for their own writing.
Research templates help organise information without cognitive overload.
Planning and writing scaffolds provide support for the drafting stages.
Editing checklists assist with refining and improving their work.

Download This Explanation Text Writing Project

If you’re looking for an engaging way to teach writing an explanation, this resource is ready to download and use straight away. Simply print the materials or assign them digitally, then guide students through the step-by-step process of analysing, researching and writing their own explanation text.

Use the dropdown menu on the Download button to access either the quick-print PDF or the editable Google Slides file. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template before accessing it).

For sustainability purposes, please consider printing this workbook double-sided.

Stephanie Machart, a teacher and Teach Starter collaborator, contributed to this resource.

More Explanation Writing Resources From Teach Starter

Click below to browse more explanation writing activities to guide and support your students as they engage with this important text type.

[resource:4450354] [resource:4655506] [resource:4663827]

Curriculum

AC9E5LA03

Describe how spoken, written and multimodal texts use language features and are typically organised into characteristic stages and phases, depending on purposes in texts
AC9E5LY03

Explain characteristic features used in imaginative, informative and persuasive texts to meet the purpose of the text
AC9E5LY06

Plan, create, edit and publish written and multimodal texts whose purposes may be imaginative, informative and persuasive, developing ideas using visual features, text structure appropriate to the topic and purpose, text connectives, expanded noun groups, specialist and technical vocabulary, and pu
AC9E6LA03

Explain how texts across the curriculum are typically organised into characteristic stages and phases depending on purposes, recognising how authors often adapt text structures and language features
AC9E6LY03

Analyse how text structures and language features work together to meet the purpose of a text, and engage and influence audiences
AC9E6LY06

Plan, create, edit and publish written and multimodal texts whose purposes may be imaginative, informative and persuasive, using paragraphs, a variety of complex sentences, expanded verb groups, tense, topic-specific and vivid vocabulary, punctuation, spelling and visual features

Teach Starter Publishing

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