​What is Informative Writing?

Informative writing is a type of non-fiction writing. Its purpose is to teach the reader something new by sharing facts, details and knowledge about a topic.

Good informative writing:

• Uses clear, factual language

• Is organised with a title and subheadings

• Includes specific details to help the reader understand

• Does not include personal opinions or made-up stories

Examples of informative writing: encyclopaedia entries, nature documentaries, information websites, science textbooks, museum leaflets.

Meet the Helifish!

What is a Helifish? The Helifish is an extraordinary fish that lives in the deep ocean waters. It's known for its unique ability to swim swiftly and gracefully through the water using its special fins, which look like helicopter blades when in motion.

Appearance: The Helifish has a sleek and streamlined body, with shiny scales that shimmer in the sunlight. Its fins are long and slender, resembling the rotor blades of a helicopter. These fins help the Helifish glide effortlessly through the water with incredible speed and agility.

Habitat: You can find the Helifish in the deep, dark waters of the ocean, where it loves to explore and dart around among the coral reefs and rocky crevices. It prefers to live in areas with plenty of underwater caves and tunnels where it can hide and play.

Diet: The Helifish is a carnivorous creature, which means it eats other smaller fish and crustaceans. It has sharp teeth that help it catch its prey with ease. The Helifish is an excellent hunter, using its speed and agility to outmaneuver its targets.

Behaviour: Helifish are social creatures and often swim in small groups called schools. They communicate with each other using special sounds and body movements. Despite their swift swimming abilities, they are generally peaceful and avoid conflicts with other sea creatures.

Fun Fact: One fascinating thing about the Helifish is its ability to change color to blend in with its surroundings. This helps it hide from predators and sneak up on its prey.

How is an informative paragraph built?

Look at this paragraph about the Helifish's appearance. Let's break it down:

"The Helifish has a sleek and streamlined body, with shiny scales that shimmer in the sunlight. Its fins are long and slender, resembling the rotor blades of a helicopter. These fins help the Helifish glide effortlessly through the water with incredible speed and agility."

Remember: Every paragraph needs a topic sentence, at least one detail and an explanation.

Your task

Language to use in your writing

Adjectives to describe the Helifish: Colourful, graceful, sleek, glistening, majestic, swift, ethereal, powerful, agile, remarkable

Adverbial phrases to use:

• In the deep ocean...

• Swiftly swimming through the water...

• Amidst the coral reefs...

• With incredible agility...

• Beneath the surface...

• In search of prey...

• Silently lurking...

• Among underwater vegetation...

Let's write together — Appearance

Use the word bank to complete this paragraph. Choose the best word for each gap.

"The Helifish has a __________ and streamlined body, covered in __________ scales that shimmer in the sunlight. Its fins are long and __________, resembling the rotor blades of a __________. These remarkable fins allow the Helifish to __________ through the water with incredible speed."

Word bank: sleek / shiny / helicopter / slender / glide / powerful / dart / golden

Now you try — Habitat

Use these sentence starters to write a full paragraph about where the Helifish lives. Try to write 3–4 sentences.

• In the deep, dark waters of the ocean...

• The Helifish prefers to live...

• Among the coral reefs and rocky crevices...

• This habitat is important because...

Helpful words: tunnels / caves / shelter / predators / hunt / explore / hidden / deep / murky

Your turn — Diet

Use this paragraph frame to write about what the Helifish eats. Replace the [brackets] with your own words.

"The Helifish is a [type of eater] creature, which means it eats [what it eats]. It uses its [body part] to [how it catches prey]. The Helifish is an excellent hunter — [add a sentence using an adverbial phrase to describe how it hunts]."

Hint: carnivorous / sharp teeth / smaller fish / crustaceans / lightning speed / silently lurking / incredible agility.

Independent — Behaviour

Write a paragraph about how Helifish behave. You have been given just a topic sentence and one connective to help you. Try to add 3 more sentences yourself.

"Helifish are remarkably social creatures that swim together in groups called schools. Furthermore, ___________________________________________."

Things to include: how they communicate / how they treat other sea creatures / why living in groups might help them survive

Independent Writing — Fun Fact

Now write a full paragraph completely on your own! Write about the Helifish's most amazing ability — its power to change colour.

Your paragraph must include:

• A topic sentence

• At least two detail sentences

• An adverbial phrase

• A connective

• A closing sentence