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Writing a report
Learning focus.
To plan and write a formal report.
This lesson includes:
one video that explains how to write a formal report
four activities
Reports are informative pieces of writing that give information to the reader about a certain topic. For example: space, the bald eagle, Scotland, flags of the world or anything else you’re interested in.
Watch this short clip to learn about what makes a clear and informative report.
Report rules
All the information must be about the same topic.
You should provide the audience with lots of facts and evidence rather than personal opinions.
Reports must be set out clearly with a title, introduction, paragraphs, subheadings and images . (Subheadings are little titles for each paragraph, or group of paragraphs, to explain what they are about.)
They should be written in a formal tone (like how you would speak to your head teacher).
They should be written in the present tense (as if the actions are happening now).
You may need paper and a pen or pencil for some of these activities.
Read this formal report about Humpback Whales on Newsround and then answer the following questions.
This is a good example of a formal report, so you can use it as inspiration for your own writing.
1. What does the report have at the very beginning?
2. What does each paragraph have?
3. Does it use a formal tone (like how you would speak to your head teacher) or an informal tone (how you would speak to your best friend)?
For questions four and five, see if you can find an example to support your answer.
4. Is it written in the present tense?
5. Does it use facts?
You can check your answers with this answer sheet.
You are going to write a report all about badgers.
Watch the following clip in which wildlife expert and TV presenter Chris Packham explains how badgers live underground.
You will fill in a planning sheet afterwards, so pay close attention to the facts.

Badger Report Planning Sheet
Now fill in the ‘Badger Report Planning Sheet'.
In each box write notes about what you will write in each paragraph. Notes do not have to be full sentences. Use the questions in each box to help you.
Either print the sheet out or copy the subheadings down on paper and write your notes under each one.
Remember: A report should contain facts not your opinions. You may think badgers are the cutest animals in the world but that’s an opinion so it should not be included.
You can re-watch the video as many times as you want to get all the information you need.
Now you’re ready to write your report.
Keep looking back at your plan as this shows you everything you want to include.
Refer back to the Report rules at the start of the lesson. If you include all of these your writing will be very impressive!
Make sure you write in full sentences and in paragraphs. Aim for each paragraph to be between four and six sentences long.
Use conjunctions to make sure that your sentences flow nicely together.
Coordinating conjunctions like and, but and so can help you join two sentences together.
Subordinating conjunctions like which, because and when can help you add extra detail to a sentence.
Read your report to yourself, or to someone else at home, if you can.
Go through the Report rules and tick off the features you have used.
Using a different coloured pen, underneath your writing:
Write two things that you really like about your report.
Write one thing that you would like to improve next time you write a report. This could be a feature that you forgot to include, for example.
Where next?
In this lesson you have learnt how to plan and write a formal report.
There are other useful articles on Bitesize to help you improve your non-fiction writing.
How to write for different audiences
How to think about your purpose for writing
Identifying errors
There's more to learn

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What is a non-chronological report?

A non-chronological report is a non-fiction report which is not written in time order.
All of the following information texts are written in time order:
- Explanation - this is a text about a process which happens or happened in a certain order, such as the water cycle or the events of a battle.
- Recount - this is a time ordered re-telling of something that has happened in real life, such as a school trip or the life of Gandhi.
- Instructions - this is a text including numbered points on how to do something, such as cook a meal or put up some shelves.

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A non-chronological report is focused on a single topic and includes various facts about this topic. Children may be asked to read and / or write non-chronological reports about a country, animal, religion, planet or sport.
Working with non-chronological reports in primary school
Teachers would start by showing children a range of reports and asking them to look at the features.
The features of a non-chronological report include some of the following:
- An eye-catching heading in a large font
- An introductory paragraph
- Text split up into paragraphs and each paragraph on a different aspect of the subject
- Sub-headings for each paragraph
- Usually written in present tense
- Pictures of the subject
- Captions under each picture to explain what is in the picture
- Diagrams with labels
- Lists of facts in bullet points
- Graphs or charts showing information about the subject
- Boxes containing interesting individual facts to grab the attention of the reader
- Technical vocabulary in bold, possibly with a glossary at the end

Children will spend some time text-marking the features on different reports and comparing how they are set out. The next step will be for children to choose or be given a topic to research.

Teachers will then encourage them to edit and improve their writing. The teacher may mark the work and write suggestions, or children may be put into pairs to edit each other's work.
Children then need to think about the layout of their report. They need to think about all the above features and what they would like to include. A teacher may encourage children to draw up a plan of how they would like their report to look.
Children then produce their reports in 'neat', writing up their improved paragraphs and including eye-catching headings and pictures.
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Non-chronological report – 7 of the best KS1/KS2 examples, worksheets and resources

Get children’s report writing in order, even if it’s not in chronological order, with these lesson ideas, activities and other resources for primary English…

What is a non-chronological report?
A non-chronological report is a piece of text that isn’t written in time order. They tend to be non-fiction, and they give information on subjects or events.
1 | Animals non-chronological report pack for KS1

Teach Year 1 and 2 children how to write engaging non-chronological reports with this KS1 text types resource pack.
In it you’ll find sheets to help them plan against success criteria, descriptions of what a non-chronological report should include, two detailed model texts and collections of facts about lions that children can use to create their own non-chronological reports.
Find all this here.
2 | Mythical creatures non-chronological report pack for KS2

And for Year 3-6 this pack covers all the same bases, and includes a range of images of mythical creatures to inspire their own non-chronological report writing.
Get this pack here.
3 | Non-chronological report medium-term plan for Year 2

This 3-week sequence for KS1 is a sample resource from No Nonsense Literacy, where the key learning outcome is to write a non-chronological report about an animal of interest, and uses Penguins by Emily Bone.
In it, you will use an object that pupils are interested in, such as a toy car, to talk about its features. What it is made of, who might use it and why? They should then write a report about the car, to include a diagram.
It covers reading, writing, grammar and spoken language.
Download it here.
4 | How to write a non-chronological report KS1/KS2
In this BBC Teach article Sonali Shah demonstrates the process of planning, writing and editing a sports story that she is working on about ‘What happens in a footballer’s medical?’
She takes you through the process from start to finish; identifying the key features of non-chronological writing and emphasising the importance of researching, drafting and proof-reading in her job as a sports journalist.
She also explains how important it is to engage the reader by using appropriate vocabulary.
Keywords and examples are presented on the screen to support pupils writing in this genre.
Check it out here.
5 | Non-chronological report examples

As ever, if you want a big selection of ‘what a good one looks like’ examples, just head to Literacy Wagoll.
Its collection of non-chronological report examples include everything from polar bears and ancient Greeks to space school, The Day of the Dead and the fictional poison mantis frog.
Check out the whole collection here.
6 | Features of a non-chronological report PowerPoint

Run through what goes into non-chronological reports with you class with this handy PowerPoint presentation.
It looks at the criteria for report writing, a good opening sentence, organising your notes, using sub-headings and more.
Click here to download (142kb).
7 | Sports non-chronological report template

This writing frame will support children with creating their own factfile on a sport of their choice.
It includes prompts and suggested sections.
Download and print here.
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Features of a non-chronological report
Subject: English
Age range: 7-11
Resource type: Other

Teacher Sheffield Powerpoint queen
Last updated
24 April 2020
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Y6 recap powerpoint presentation to recap the features of a non-chronological report.
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robyn_davies
Very useful, exactly what I was going to create myself for a lesson. Saves a lot of time, thank you
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Very useful, thanks for sharing.
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Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource:
- Part 1- Planning a non-chronological report
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- Class 2 (pre-Sept 2021)
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LO: To plan a non-chronological report
This week, we're exploring non-chronological reports. People write reports to store and organise information about something. For example, you might read a report on meerkats if you want to find out more about them. Non-chronological means no particular order. So a non-chronological report on meerkats for instance, might give you an introduction, then some information about where they live, what they eat, how they're adapted to environments and so on.
There are many different examples of non-chronological reports:
- non-fiction book
- tourist leaflet
- information poster (e.g. like the ones you may see in a zoo)
- news report on the TV
- video report about something in particular
Although they may take different forms, they have similar features. Here are some of the key features of a non-chronological report.

Tuesday Activity:
Can you spot any of these features in the examples of non-chronological reports below?
- All about pigs
- Polar Bears

Wednesday Activity: Planning your non-chronological report in a spider diagram
Spend a few minutes thinking about the questions below then watch the video.
Topic:
- Is there something that you'd like to find out more about?
- An animal
- A significant person
- An company or charity

How to write reports with BBC Sport | English - Facts about Non-Fiction
Unfortunately not the ones with chocolate chips.
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IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
The definition of report writing is creating an account or statement that describes in detail an event, situation or occurrence, usually as the result of observation or inquiry. The two most common forms of report writing are news report wr...
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Learn ; All the information must be about the same topic. ; You should provide the audience with lots of · evidence rather than personal opinions. ; Reports must be
writing non chronological reports ks1 examples of non chronological reports.
Working with non-chronological reports in primary school · An eye-catching heading in a large font · An introductory paragraph · Text split up into paragraphs and
A non-chronological report is a piece of text that isn't written in time order. They tend to be non-fiction, and they give information on subjects or events. 1
Writing checklist and guides for six text types: explanation, recount, discussion, non-chronological reports, persuasion and instructions.
Y6 recap powerpoint presentation to recap the features of a non-chronological report. Creative Commons "Sharealike". Reviews.
Tuesday Activity: Can you spot any of these features in the examples of non-chronological reports below? All about pigs