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      Planning the first section of an explanation text about how bees make honey

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can plan ambitious, subject-specific vocabulary for the section about how bees collect nectar outside the beehive.

      Key learning points

      1. Activity outside the hive is an important part of the honey-making process.
      2. The main sections in an explanation text follow a clear, sequenced order.
      3. Notes should not be written in full sentences and bullet points can be used to make notes clear.
      4. Facts become increasingly specific throughout one section of an explanation text.

      Keywords

      • Subject-specific vocabulary - vocabulary used when writing about a particular subject

      • Plan - a framework that writers create before they write a section or whole text

      • Notes - written out of full sentences

      Common misconception

      Planning needs to be detailed and include full sentences.

      Planning should only have keywords and be written in note-form using bullet points.

      Teacher tip

      Supplement pupils' knowledge of honey bees with additional videos, images and research.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What does a full sentence need to include?

      Correct answer: full stop
      Correct answer: capital letter
      Correct answer: verb
      comma

      Q2.
      Order these sections of an explanation text correctly.

      1 - Introduction
      2 - First themed section
      3 - Second themed section
      4 - Conclusion

      Q3.
      Match the type of fronted adverbial to its example.

      Correct Answer:ordering fronted adverbial,Next,

      Next,

      Correct Answer:fronted adverbial of cause,As a result,

      As a result,

      Correct Answer:formal fronted adverbial,However,

      However,

      Correct Answer:viewpoint fronted adverbial,Amazingly,

      Amazingly,

      Q4.
      What does 'chronological order' mean?

      Correct answer: events organised in the order in which they happen or happened in time
      events organised in alphabetical order
      events organised in random order

      Q5.
      Which of these fronted adverbials shows the cause and effect of something?

      Interestingly,
      In addition,
      Correct answer: As a result,
      Next,

      Q6.
      Which subject-specific vocabulary would be found in an explanation text about the honey-making process?

      Correct answer: nectar
      science
      Correct answer: hive
      predator

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of the following are found in a plan for writing?

      full sentences with capital letters and full stops
      Correct answer: bullet points
      paragraphs
      Correct answer: subject-specific vocabulary

      Q2.
      Fill in the gap: The bee leaves the hive, searching for colourful flowers to collect __________.

      Correct Answer: nectar, Nectar

      Q3.
      Which of these is an example of an ordering fronted adverbial?

      Interestingly,
      Also,
      Correct answer: Next,
      However,

      Q4.
      Which of the following mix with nectar in the honey stomach to break it down into smaller molecules?

      saliva
      Correct answer: enzymes
      cells

      Q5.
      Which fronted adverbial could link these two sentences? 'The enzymes break down the nectar into smaller molecules.' and 'It can start to turn into honey'.

      However,
      As quick as a flash,
      Correct answer: As a result,
      Surprisingly,

      Q6.
      Order these steps of the honey-making process that take place outside the hive.

      1 - The bee leaves the hive.
      2 - It searches for colourful flowers.
      3 - It collects the nectar with its tongue.
      4 - The nectar travels into the honey stomach.
      5 - Nectar mixes with enzymes.
      6 - Nectar breaks down into smaller molecules.

      To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Planning the first section of an explanation text about how bees make honey, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...