For the next couple of weeks, we are going to be writing an informational report. Today, we will start our unit by exploring what informational writing is and analyzing an example of an informational report.

Informational text is nonfiction writing, written with the intention or purpose of informing the reader (your audience) about a specific topic.

Nonfiction writing includes:

• facts and true information

• explains how to do something

• includes real people and real events

The Wonder of Victoria Falls

INTRODUCTION

Did you know that Niagara Falls is not the largest waterfall in the world? Victoria Falls is! It is one of the amazing Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Victoria Falls was named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Victoria Falls were first found on November 16, 1855 by a British explorer named David Livingston.

WHAT IS IT?

First of all, Victoria Falls is known as a cataract waterfall. A cataract waterfall is when a large amount of fast moving water falls over a cliff and is very powerful. The falls are over a mile wide (5,604 feet) and 355 feet tall. As stated in kids.britannica.com, “It is about twice as wide and twice as high as Niagara Falls in North America.” In addition, the water is 229 feet deep at the base. As you can see, Victoria Falls is the largest cataract waterfall in the world.

WHERE IS IT FOUND? WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Victoria Falls is found in Africa and the climate can range depending on the season. Furthermore, Victoria Falls acts as a border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. As seen in factsjustforkids.com, “Victoria Falls is a waterfall in both Zambia and Zimbabwe in Southern Africa.” The Zambezi River is one of the longest in Africa! From September through November it is hot by Victoria Falls. On the other hand, the winter months are May through August. The winters are mild or not too hot or too cold, just perfect. From May to October it is the dry season, so there isn’t much rain. In conclusion, Victoria Falls are found in Africa along the Zambezi River where the weather changes based on the different months..

HOW DID IT FORM? WHAT IS IT MADE OF?

Victoria Falls started to form about 20,000 years ago. Victoria Falls was formed when the land cracked and filled up over time. As seen in victoriafallstraveller.com, “Victoria Falls was created when cracks in the hard basalt rock that makes up the plateau filled up with softer sandstone over the ages.” Eventually, the flowing water eroded (slowly destroyed) the sandstone and made the waterfall. To sum it up, Victoria Falls has been around for many years and formed slowly over time.

CONCLUSION

To summarize, Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It is a massive waterfall. It is located in Africa, along the Zambezi River and has a range of climates. Moreover, it formed tens of thousands of years ago. Wouldn’t you want to visit this natural wonder?

The Eiffel Tower

The beautiful Eiffel Tower towers above the Paris skyline. Its popular image is everywhere from clothing, to jewelry, to artwork. According to Science Kids, “The Eiffel Tower is one of the most well-known structures in the world. Its image represents Paris in the minds of people.” Can you believe that such a world-famous structure was only designed to be temporary?

Building the Tower

Construction of the tower began in 1887 and was completed for the 1889 World’s Fair. The Eiffel Tower was constructed on the Champ de Mars in the center of Paris. It was designed as the entryway for the fair. Interestingly, not many people at the time thought that it was especially great, and most thought that it would come down after ten to twenty years.

Engineer Gustave Eiffel designed the tower to be impressively large. It stretches 1,050 feet high and is 410 feet wide. The current color is a shade of bronze known as Eiffel Tower brown. However, according to Tour Eiffel.Paris, the Eiffel Tower has been painted 18 times since it was built. The different colors used on the tower include red brown, yellow-ochre, chestnut brown, and bronze, which is the current color of the tower today.

What Is in the Tower?

There is a lot more to the Eiffel Tower than you may think from a picture. In fact, the tower has several floors with rooms and decks. On the first two floors, there are restaurants and cafés for tourists. Visitors can use the

stairs or the elevator to reach these two stories. The observation deck can be found on the third floor. Visitors can buy tickets to go to the observation deck to get a bird’s-eye view of Paris.

Popularity

The tower draws worldwide attention. Over 250 million people have visited the Eiffel Tower since it was built in 1889. The Paris Hotel in Las Vegas has a replica of the Eiffel Tower, and the Tokyo Tower in Japan is built in its imitation. Many pieces of artwork and movies show scenes with the tower in the background. The Eiffel Tower is now known as a place of beauty, fame, and culture.

Whether you use the term “Eiffel Tower” in English, the French name “La Tour Eiffel”, or the tower’s nickname, “the Iron Lady”, the name and image is recognized around the world. The unique color and popular design seems etched in everyone’s memory. The Eiffel Tower may have been built as a simple temporary structure, but it has become one of Europe's icons and one of the world’s most popular sites.