Bethany is a certified Special Education and Elementary teacher with 11 years experience teaching Special Education from grades PK through 5. She has a Bachelor's degree in Special Education, Elementary Education, and English from Gordon College and a Master's degree in Special Education from Salem State University.
Explanation Writing Activities
Writing an Explanation
ESL students benefit from writing instruction that is practical in nature, allowing them to practice useful, relevant vocabulary. One important form of writing is explanatory writing, which is useful in school, recreation, and employment contexts. Working on explanatory writing with your ESL students gives them the opportunity to work with motivating vocabulary sets while sharpening their overall writing skills. Try these explanation writing activities, which can be adapted for ESL students of various ages.
Activity: Step by Step Instructions
Objective: Break down a preferred task into steps and write instructions.
Materials: Paper and pencil, items to perform tasks (optional)
- Select a simple activity to work through as a class, such as packing a lunch.
- For your demonstration, bring in the items you need to pack a lunch (for example: bread, peanut butter, jelly, knife, sandwich bag, apple, napkin, lunch box).
- Arrange the items on a table at the front of the room.
- On the board, write ''How To Pack a Lunch.''
- Ask students to help you verbalize how you would put together a lunch using the items on the table.
- As you talk through the steps, write them on the board. For example:
- Get two slices of bread.
- Open the peanut butter.
- Spread peanut butter on one slice of bread.
- Etc.
- When all the steps are written, have students read the steps aloud.
- Each student should choose a daily task and write step by step instructions to perform their task.
- Optional: When everyone is finished, students present their instructions to the class.
Activity: Hobby Invitation
Objective: Explain why you enjoy your favorite hobby.
Materials: Paper and pencil
- Ask each student to share the name of one of their favorite hobbies. (For example: baking.)
- Each student should tell a partner one reason they enjoy their hobby. (For example: I like baking treats for my friends.)
- On a piece of paper, students write a list of vocabulary related to their hobby. (For example: oven, cookie sheet, measuring cup, flour, sugar, mixer, etc.) Students should list as many relevant words and phrases as they can. Encourage students to look up words they are unsure of.
- Students write a letter inviting a friend to join them in their favorite hobby. Their letter should explain:
- reasons the student enjoys the hobby
- what will happen when the friend joins them (i.e., steps they will take, places they will go, items they will use to do the activity)
- Optional: Students share their letters with the class.
Activity: Excuse Note
Objective: Write an explanation for an absence.
Materials: Paper and pencil, scenarios, sample excuse note
- Put students in pairs. Give each pair a simple scenario.
- Scenario ideas:
- being late for school
- missing a meeting or sports practice
- not being able to attend a party or event
- forgetting a birthday
- Each pair should discuss the vocabulary needed to excuse the person in their scenario.
- Pairs take turns acting out their scenario, with one person explaining their excuse for their scenario.
- For example, one pair explains that they were late for school because the car had a flat tire.
- Show students a sample excuse note, such as a note explaining why someone missed soccer practice.
- Each student should choose a scenario - either one from the role-play activity or one of their own - and write an excuse note explaining their behavior in the situation.
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