Year 6 · SPaG · Summer: After the test: cohesion
Year 6 paragraphs in non-fiction worksheet and PowerPoint
To use paragraphs in non-fiction, with one main idea in each and a new paragraph when the topic changes.
Paragraphs in non-fiction
In non-fiction, each paragraph has one main idea. Start a new paragraph when the topic changes.
| topic sentence | the first sentence says what the paragraph is about |
|---|---|
| supporting sentences | give facts, examples and detail |
| new topic | start a new paragraph |
| linking | words such as however or in addition link paragraphs |
Examples
- Penguins live in the cold lands near the South Pole. ...
- Penguins eat fish, squid and krill. ...
Key words
- topic
- what a paragraph is about
- topic sentence
- the sentence that sums up a paragraph
- supporting detail
- facts and examples that back up the topic
- sub-topic
- a smaller part of a bigger topic
What is on the worksheet
Every sheet for this lesson has a short teaching box and 12 questions that get gradually harder: 8 fluency questions, then 4 reasoning questions that ask pupils to explain or choose. A writing challenge follows. The questions use the same styles as the key stage 2 grammar and punctuation test (circle, underline, tick, fill the gap, add punctuation, rewrite, explain). They are written for this website, not copied from past papers.
All the answers are on the last page of the same editable Word file. New questions are made every time, so you can print a different sheet for every group or for homework. The same sheet code always gives the same sheet.
Writing challenge: Write a short information text about an animal in three paragraphs: where it lives, what it eats, and how it protects itself.
Pupil target: I can organise non-fiction into paragraphs.
The PowerPoint
A 20-slide lesson deck for the same lesson: a starter that revisits earlier learning, key words, an I do and a You do question on each slide with a countdown timer, answers that appear one click at a time, and a challenge. Download the paragraphs in non-fiction PowerPoint.
Where this lesson fits
This is lesson 64 of 72 in the Year 6 SPaG scheme, in the Summer term, block “After the test: cohesion”. It is taught after the SATs grammar test in May, as a writing skill the test does not ask.
Other lessons in this block
- Recognising cohesion: linking ideas
- Paragraphs in fiction
- Ordering sentences within a paragraph
- Linking paragraphs in a text
- Avoiding repetition
- Using cohesive devices
- Ellipsis
- Layout and organisation of texts
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