non chronological report research sheet

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Non-chronological reports

What is a non-chronological report.

A non-chronological report is a non-fiction text that is not written in time order. They are written to give information on a particular subject or event, without actually referring to the order in which things happen. Non-chronological reports are often referred to as information texts as they give factual information about the topic or event.

Instructions are not an example of a non-chronological report since it would be impossible to follow them correctly were they not in the correct order. Similarly, explanation texts are also presented in time order so are not non-chronological reports.

Below is an example of a non-chronological report taking from our Lost in the Rainforest Non-Chronological Reports scheme for Year 3.

What are the features of a non-chronological report?

Here are the key features of non-chronologicl reports. Not all non-chronological reports will contain every single feature listed below but they will include some of them.

1. A heading - The heading should be nice and big so it catches the readers eye. It should make it very clear to the reader what the non-chronological report is about. Sometimes, the heading can take the form of a question which then the non-chronological report answers.

2. An introductory paragraph - This paragraph gives an overview of the topic the non-chronological report is about. It is found just below the heading and before the main body of the report.

3. Subheadings - Non-chronological reports are laid out in pargraphs. Each paragraph focusses on a different aspect of the topic of the report. So that the reader knows what each paragraph is about, subheadings are used as signposts. They enable the reader to quickly find the part of the non-chronological report they are interested in finding out about. These subheadings can, like the heading, also take the form of questions.

4. Paragraphs - Non-chronological reports are organised into paragraphs. Each paragraph focusses on a different aspect of the subject being discussed.

5. Technical vocabulary - Non-chronological reports often contain topic specific vocabulary. These may not be known to the reader and are thus either explained within the report itself or are sometimes listed in the glossary found at the back of the information book. Children need to be taught this topic-specific vocabulary explicitly so that they can use it with confidence in their non-chronological report writing.

6. Images with captions - These could be photographs, illustrations or diagrams with labels. The images have captions. The captions help the reader to understand what the image is showing.

7. Written in the third person - Non-chronological reports are written in the third person and have a formal tone.

8. Formal language - The purpose of this type of writing is to give facts rather than opinions. Therefore, non-chronological reports use formal language.

9. Present tense - Non-chronological reports are normally written in the present tense unless they are writing about an event that has happened in the past.

Here at PlanBee, we have created this FREE Features of Non-Chronological Reports Poster for you to download and use in your classroom:

How are children taught about non-chronological reports?

Here are the stages children will typically go through when learning to write a non-chronological report:

Stage 1 - Reading and Analysing

The beginning of a unit on non-chronological reports will usually involve reading a range of high quality examples of the text type. Children will identify features that are common to non-chronological reports (see above) and will draw up a list of success criteria for good non-chronological reports. At this stage of the teaching sequence, children will often be required to compare non-chronological reports. Using a bad example (often written by the teacher); children can then see why the key features of non-chronological reports are needed.

Teachers will often share a WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like) with the children at this stage in order to identify the key features of the text type. We have a teaching Wiki on WAGOLL to help:

Stage 2 - Research

The next stage children will often be involved with is researching using information texts. For children to be able to write a quality non-chronological report on a topic, they will obviously need to know lots about that topic. Therefore, children will need to use a range of texts on the topic to become experts in it. Note taking, bullet pointing and answering comprhension questions using non-chronological reports could all happen at this stage. The topic precific vocabulary needed will also need to be understood by the children.

Stage 3 - Sentence level work

By this point, the children will have a good understanding of the key features of non-chronological reports and will have researched the topic so that they can write with confidence about it. In this next stage, children will normally focus on a sentence level objective that the class is working on. For example, in Year 4 children might practice using fronted adverbials in their factual sentences while in year 2, work on using conjunctions might take place. They will then apply this sentence level work to their writing at length later in the unit.

Stage 4 - Planning and drafting  

Children will then typically use a planner of some description to plan out the paragraphs they will be writing in their non-chronological report. They will think about what the heading, subeadings and content of each paragraph will be. Once this has taken place, children will use their plan to draft their non-chronological report. They will have access to word banks, sentence starters and their research undertaken previosuly to help them.

Stage 5 - Editing

Once children have drafted their non-chronological report, they will then typically be involved with editing and impoving their writing. A really useful way of doing this is through the use of editing stations. There is a very useful teaching Wiki and a FREE pack full of word banks, posters and other resources that you can download. The links to these are here:

Stage 6 - Presentation and evaluation

The final stage of the writing process will be children writing up their non-chronological report. They may do this on special paper and have more creative freedom over the layout and presentation. Children will then evaluate their own and each others' writing in relation to the success criteria drawn up in the first stage of the unit (see stage 1 - research). This writing will often be mounted and displayed as a celebration of children's achievements.

Resources to support the teaching of non-chronological reports

Here at PlanBee, we have a huge range of materials that you can use to support your teaching of non-chronological reports:

Non-chronological reports Year 2

Children in Year 2 will write simple information texts related to a topic they are learning about with headings and factual sentences. They may be provided with a frame to support them writing in paragraphs with subheadings.

Non-chronological reports KS2

As children progress through KS2, their non chronological reports will become more sophisticated and show a greater use of the key features of this text type. In Year 3, the use of the key features may still need to be heavily scaffolded by the teacher but as children progress, their use of these will become more independent.

LESSON PACK Castles - Non-chronological reports (Year 2)

LESSON PACK Lost in the Rainforest - Non-chronological reports (Year 3)

FREE Features of a Non-Chronological Report Poster

FREE Editing Station Poster Pack

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Step-By-Step Guide (and Resources): Writing Non-Chronological Reports

03 August 2023 | KS2 English , Non-Fiction Writing

In this post I will be explaining:

• What a non-chronological report is
• Why write a non-chronological report
• The step by step process of writing a non-chronological report

I have also created free downloadable resources  to write non-chronological reports:

• An example of a non-chronological report
• A printable resource explaining the features of a non-chronological report
• A printable mind-map for brainstorming
• A printable non-chronological report planning template
• A printable non-chronological report features checklist and sentence starters reference

Reading and writing doesn’t just have to be about fiction. Sometimes we forget that every subject has specialist vocabulary, every subject requires writing.

Teaching your child how to write notes, summaries, reports, and essays will give them vital skills needed to organise information they learn.

In the earlier years, non-chronological reports are a perfect way to incorporate other subjects into the reading and writing experience. It’s also a way to connect our children’s interests to academic skills.

Non-fiction writing is the way our kids can document, organise, and express the information and knowledge they learn whether it is through making notes, summaries, presentations or reports.

What Is a Non-Chronological Report?

A non-chronological report is a type of writing that provides facts and information about a specific topic. Unlike a story, or an account of a historical event, or instructions, which all goes in order from beginning to end, a non-chronological report doesn’t have to follow a timeline.

Imagine your child wanted to write a report about their favourite animal- a lion. In a non-chronological report, they might share exciting facts about lions, like where they live, what they eat, how they look, and the amazing things they can do. They could add some pictures or diagrams to help explain things better.

The Multiple Benefits of Writing a Non-Chronological Report

The great thing about a non-chronological report is that they can organise it into different sections of their choice, like having one part about the lion’s habitat, another part about its diet, and another part about its amazing hunting skills. It’s like putting together a puzzle of information to give a clear picture of the animal.

Non-chronological reports are like mini encyclopaedias or information books, and they help others learn new things about a topic they might not know much about.

Writing a non-chronological report often involves research across different subjects. This is perfect for our homeschool settings as lessons don’t need to be penned in to specific subjects. Topics for non-chronological reports can be anything that interests your child: science, art, cooking, history, even literature.

Whilst producing a non-chronological report, your child gets to practice multiple skills. They will be engaged in research, organising information, critical thinking, developing written communication skills.  In order to produce a non-chronological report children have to gather information from various sources, analyse the data, and present it in a coherent and structured manner. 

Non-chronological reports are also a perfect way for children to be engaged in self-directed learning and creatively expressing themselves. Even though non-chronological reports are informative in nature, children can present it in so many creative ways.

In the rest of this post, I will be detailing the step-by-step process of teaching our kids how to produce a non-chronological report from scratch into a finished product.  

Step by Step: How to write a Non-Chronological report

These steps should be done over several sessions. Take as long as needed for each one.

Step 1: Identifying the Purpose and Features of a Non-Chronological Report

Explain that a non-chronological report is a type of informative writing that provides facts and information about a particular topic.

Unlike a story, it does not follow a strict chronological order but organises information into sections or categories.

Have a look at examples of a non-chronological report and identify features of a non-chronological report together.

I have provided an example non-chronological report, with and without annotations highlighting features typically included in a non-chronological report. You can look at these with your child to get ideas of features to include and how they might present their report.

Download an example non-chronological report:

Download a fully annotated features of a non-chronological report:

Alternatively, you can use the non-chronological features checklist that I have made and hunt for the features mentioned in the checklist on the reports. Your child can also use this as a checklist for their own report to remind themselves of what to include.  

Download the features of a non-chronological report checklist:

Step 2: Choosing a Suitable Topic

You might already have an idea of the topic your child will do their report on. It helps if it’s tied in with something relevant to what they have recently encountered in their studies or a topic that they are interested in or curious about.

Step 3: Researching the Topic

In this step, take as much time as your child needs and wants to get familiar with the topic. This can be through reading books, articles, researching on the internet, watching YouTube clips or documentaries. If appropriate or feasible, incorporate practical activities or field trips.

Allow them to immerse themselves in the topic and tell you what they learn. Ask them questions based on what they tell you to get them to dig deeper into their research.

Step 4: Organi s ing Information

Once the research has been done, it is time to think about writing the report. Get your child to think of three (or more) sub-categories within their chosen topic they want to write about.

However, be aware that this is usually a really difficult step for kids. While it’s easy for us with our adult minds to sift through all of the information in our heads and sequence and categorise information into related sub-topics, it’s not easy for children to do without lots of practice.

You can help make this step easier for your child by helping them brainstorm sub-topics they encountered during their research, and then using this as a spring board of choosing what categories to write about from this list.

The brainstorm can be in list format, on post-it notes, or my favourite- a spider diagram or mind map.

Obviously brainstorming everything they have learnt about their topic is a huge task. Let them browse through the books they used to learn about their topic so that they can remind themselves of the things they learned. If it makes it easier, you can write their brainstorm ideas while they tell you.

You can download and print my mind-map template for this or just do it freehand on paper.

Download the mind-map template:

Now they have a master list of ideas to choose from when deciding what sub-topics to write about in their report.

Get them to choose around three sub-topics from this list that will form their main three sections in their report.

For the final report, they will also need to include an introduction section and to make things a bit more engaging. This can be done by adding an “interesting facts” or “Did you know?” section.

Step 5: Writing the Introduction

Writing an introduction is hard! Help your child to write an introduction that briefly introduces their topic and grabs the reader’s attention.

They can share a fun fact, a quote from a book, an anecdote – something that will hook the reader.

For the next steps of the writing process, you can use the non-chronological report planning template to write the draft. This might help your child to visualise how their final report will look like.

Download the report writing planning template:  

If it helps, you can give a prompt to your child to help them write their introduction for example:

Prompt: Imagine you are introducing your topic to someone who knows nothing about it.

This prompt encourages the child to think about their chosen topic and put themselves in the shoes of someone who knows nothing about it. It invites them to use their imagination to come up with an engaging introduction that captures the reader’s attention and makes them curious to explore more.

Here are some example introduction you can look at with your child. Let them feel free to use the structure and language of these as the base for their own introduction.  

Topic:   Volleyball

Introduction:  Volleyball is an amazingly popular sport that is played in nearly every country. It can be played indoors, outdoors, or even on the beach!

Topic: Netball

Introduction: Netball is a fast paced sport that was developed from basketball. It sees players run, leap, pass and catch the ball to outsmart the opposition and score points.

Topic: Rocks

Introduction:  Rocks might seem like simple, lifeless objects at first glance, but they play an important role in  shaping landscapes, supporting life, and providing us with valuable resources. Discover the different types of rocks,  how they form, and how they provide us with valuable resources.

Topic: Baking Biscuits

Introduction:  Like any skill, baking has certain requirements to ensure a successful end product. Find out what you need to make the best biscuits in the world.

Topic: Dolphins

Introduction: Dolphins are fascinating creatures that roam the oceans. Explore the incredible world of these playful marine mammals and learn about their extraordinary characteristics and behaviours.

Step 6: Writing the Main  Paragraphs

Help your child write detailed paragraphs for each section, providing relevant information and supporting details for each category.

I would recommend first getting your child to freewrite each section and then going back to them (another day) to add transition words and more detail if needed.

If you have been reading enough of this blog, you will know how much I love the technique of freewriting.

Freewriting is a process where kids can write without worrying about grammar, spelling, or structure. It’s all about letting ideas flow freely onto the paper without any constraints. This means they can jot down everything that comes to mind, such as facts, descriptions, or interesting details they want to include in their report for that sub-topic. This helps in building a pool of information to work with later.

Sometimes, the hardest part of writing is getting started. Freewriting provides a low-pressure way to begin the writing process, making it less intimidating for children to begin their non-chronological report.

For each sub-topic of their non-chronological report get your child to freewrite for it. Add a time limit and make sure they know that it doesn’t matter what they write and how they write it as they will be revising it later on.

At the end of this step your child will have produced pieces of writing related to their chosen topic that will form the main paragraphs of their final report.

Now you can go back to each freewrite, and encourage your child to back up their statements with facts, statistics, or anecdotes. This adds credibility to the report and makes it more engaging for readers.

Example paragraph (Physical characteristics of dolphins): “Dolphins have sleek, streamlined bodies that allow them to glide effortlessly through the water. They typically range in length from 6 to 12 feet and weigh between 300 to 1,400 pounds. Their skin is smooth and rubbery, often featuring a greyish-blue colour with a lighter belly. Additionally, dolphins possess a prominent dorsal fin on their backs, which helps with stability during swimming.”

Step 7 : Adding Extra information Boxes

If they want they can also add a “fun facts”, “did you know” or a glossary/ key terms box.

All of these make the non-chronological report interesting to look at and engaging to read.

Step 8 : Writing the Conclusion

Guide your child to write a short conclusion. This can be a summary of the main points written about, a statement explaining the purpose of the report, or a hope or wish for their topic. Allow it to be simple. Remember, our kids are learning to write. They aren’t producing an article to be published in academic journals!

Example conclusion: “Dolphins are truly remarkable creatures with their extraordinary intelligence, playful nature, and incredible adaptability to life in the oceans. Learning about these fascinating marine mammals reminds us of the diverse and beautiful world we share with them.”

Step 9 : Proofreading and Editing

Encourage your child to read their work aloud to check for spelling, grammar or punctuation mistakes. You can do this as you go along, which is how I prefer to do it, or it ends up being a massive task at the end.

Step 10 : Writing the final draft

Finally, it’s time to create a polished final draft. This can be handwritten, or typed using a word processing software like Microsoft Word or Google Docs. 

Children can use my blank non-chronological report writing template and write directly onto that. Depending on how much information they want to present, I have made a one-page report template and a two-page report template.

Download the 1-page non-chronological blank writing frame:

Download the 2-page non-chronological blank writing frame:

Your child may already have a really clear idea about how they want to present their report, but if they don’t, here are some points you can talk about that will help guide them through this process.

• Create engaging headings by writing them bigger or using larger fonts for section headings and subheadings to make them stand out. This helps organize the report and allows readers to navigate through it easily.
• Add coloured subheadings or boxes. Encourage your child to use colours to highlight subheadings or create boxes around important information. This visually separates different sections and makes the report more appealing.
• Consider a colour scheme. Your child may want to use a consistent colour scheme for headings, subheadings, and visuals. This adds cohesion to the report and makes it visually attractive.
• Use images and captions. One of the funnest parts of doing a con-chronological report is probably adding visuals to it. Definitely have your child think about any relevant images, illustrations, diagrams, or maps to complement what they have written. Make sure they include a descriptive caption with it.
• Use bullet points or numbered lists. Can some of the information be presented using bullet points or numbered lists?

Is going through the process of writing a non-chronological report a lot of work. Yes.

But remember, this work will be done over many days. Most importantly whilst producing a non-chronological report, your child will get to practice multiple skills, and have a finished writing product at the end that they will be proud of.

I hope this helps some of you out!

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• Non Chronological Report Ks2 Examples Worksheets And Resources

Non-chronological report – 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…

It might surprise you to find that the words ‘non-chronological report’ do not feature in the national curriculum. Yet, the writing of non-chronological reports has become a staple of primary teaching.

While some schools have moved away from a genre-based way of teaching writing , you’re still very likely to find yourself being required to teach children how to produce this kind of writing.

What is a non-chronological report?

What are the features of a non-chronological report, non-chronological reports in ks1, non-chronological reports in ks2, progression through year groups, more non-chronological report resources.

The purpose of a non-chronological report is to inform the reader. A non-chronological report can be about anything that doesn’t require a chronological, time-ordered account of something. This might include:

• an introduction to a hobby
• an overview of a capital city
• a piece about a child’s family

The following examples would not suit a non-chronological report:

• Recount of a visit
• Set of instructions
• Write-up of a science experiment
• Description of a historical sequence

Pupils could choose to write a non-chronological report about anything they are knowledgeable about and interested in.

Linking writing to previous learning

To remove the need to recall facts, you can also write non-chronological reports about fictional topics, for example, mythological beasts that children have created.

However, in primary schools it’s often the case that you’ll link the piece of writing to some current (or previous) learning in another curriculum area. This has the following benefits:

• children may be very knowledgeable about the subject if you’ve taught them well
• links to other subjects give the writing some further purpose
• children may be enthusiastic about writing about that particular topic

There are drawbacks too, however. Children may get bogged down in trying to accurately represent their learning in other subjects to the point that demonstrating their writing ability takes a back seat.

“The words ‘non-chronological report’ do not feature in the national curriculum”

You must also exercise caution when reviewing and assessing writing. Focus on the English knowledge and skills children have demonstrated, rather than the subject knowledge they’ve demonstrated in the content.

Because non-chronological reports do not follow a sequential order but instead focus on presenting facts and details in a structured manner, it can be useful to teach pupils how to write them as a way of helping them structure their thoughts and understanding.

The features of a non-chronological report will depend on the age group that you teach. However the following is an overview of the full range of features that you might expect a child to include in a non-chronological report by the time they reach Year 6:

A clear and engaging title that reflects the subject of the report.

Introduction

An introductory paragraph or section that provides a brief overview of the topic, without getting into the details that will feature in the rest of the report.

Organise information into paragraphs based on the different aspects of the subject being presented.

Subheadings

Use subheadings to signal paragraphs or sections comprising more than one paragraph. This makes it easy for the reader to navigate through different aspects of the subject.

Facts and information

The report will focus on the presentation of factual information and details about the subject.

Illustrations and visuals

Non-chronological reports, such as the ones you see in children’s non-fiction books, usually include images, diagrams, and other visuals related to the content. The purpose of these is to aid the reader in understanding the text.

Presentational features

Use bullet points, numbering, labels and captions to present information with clarity and organise information clearly.

Technical vocabulary

The use of specialised vocabulary and terminology relevant to the subject.

Concluding statement

This is a concluding section that summarises key points and reiterates how the information you’ve presented is relevant to the overall purpose of the piece of writing.

As previously mentioned, the national curriculum doesn’t specifically require pupils in KS1 to write non-chronological reports. However, it does require you to teach pupils in Year 2 to ‘develop positive attitudes towards and stamina for writing by writing for different purposes’.

The purpose, as we have discovered already, of a non-chronological report is to inform the reader, so this should be the focus of any non-chronological report writing in Year 2. Beyond this, any piece of writing in Year 2 should be a means of practising and showcasing other writing skills, as set out in the national curriculum under the headings of spelling, handwriting, composition, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation.

Year 1 children need not write non-chronological reports at all.

In KS2, the national curriculum hints at what might be useful for pupils who are writing a non-chronological report. It says that pupils in Years 3 and 4 should be taught to draft and write by ‘organising paragraphs around a theme’ and ‘in non-narrative material, using simple organisational devices [for example, headings and sub-headings]’.

The non-statutory guidance given in the national curriculum says:

‘Pupils should continue to have opportunities to write for a range of real purposes and audiences as part of their work across the curriculum. These purposes and audiences should underpin the decisions about the form the writing should take, such as a narrative, an explanation or a description.’

In the guidance for teachers of Years 5 and 6 it states:

‘Pupils should be taught to plan their writing by identifying the audience for and purpose of the writing, selecting the appropriate form and using other similar writing as models for their own’.

It also says that pupils should be taught to plan and draft their writing ‘using further organisational and presentational devices to structure text and to guide the reader [for example, headings, bullet points, underlining]’.

Year 2 (KS1)

In Year 2, children can create simple non-chronological reports about topics they are familiar with, such as pets or favourite toys. Their focus can be on basic sections.

Provide scaffolds such as writing frames to help children organise information. You might also want to suggest a title and provide children with lots of time to orally rehearse what they want to write before they commit it to paper.

Year 3 (KS2)

Children in Year 3 can start exploring more diverse topics, potentially those linked to prior learning, and learn to organise and structure their reports with clear headings and subheadings.

Again, you may want to scaffold this, perhaps using guided planning and structure strips . Provide practice tasks focusing on grouping information around a theme.

Where possible, give children a real-life reason and purpose to write, for example, to teach their parents about what they have been learning about.

Year 4 (KS2)

Before moving on to adding other features to their non-chronological reports, students in Year 4 can spend time learning how to craft a more comprehensive introduction and conclusion.

Provide lots of live modelling and examples of sentence structures for children to choose from, avoiding simple sentences such as ‘This non-chronological report is about…’.

You can also show children how to ensure that they are incorporating technical vocabulary in their writing. The word lists in Appendix 1 of the English national curriculum are a good guide as to what is age-appropriate concerning spellings.

Download Aidan Severs’ non-chronological report example for Year 4.

Year 5 (KS2)

In Year 5, you can use assessment of prior knowledge to move children on. Begin to look at additional organisational features such as bullet points, numbering, labels and captions.

When using these new features, encourage pupils to make selections based on audience and purpose. Model how to make these decisions so that the information is presented as clearly as possible.

Year 6 (KS2)

By Year 6, the ideal is for children to be writing non-chronological reports with a high degree of independence, demonstrating all their prior learning accurately.

Your school’s individual English curriculum will likely have new grammar and punctuation content that children need to practise too. Colons, semi-colons, conjunctions and so on all have their place in non-chronological reports.

Remember that the main purpose of a non-chronological report is to inform the reader of something – this should always be the focus.

Non-chronological reports provide children with opportunities to practise and demonstrate many of the English writing skills you’ve taught them.

Show children how to select appropriate skills and techniques, all to communicate with clarity to their intended reader: this should be the case regardless of year group.

Aidan Severs is an education consultant with over 15 years of teaching experience. Follow him on Twitter  @AidanSevers  and see more of his work at  aidansevers.com

Pie Corbett non-chronological report

Elevate your KS2 English lessons with Pie Corbett’s enchanting non-chronological report resource about unicorns. Dive into vivid descriptions of their appearance, habitat and sightings, then encourage children to craft their own reports on unicorns, dragons or any fantastical creature that captivates their imagination.

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 from Plazoom.

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.

Mythical creatures non-chronological report pack for KS2

And for Year 3-6, this Plazoom pack covers all the same bases, and includes a range of images of mythical creatures to inspire pupils’ own non-chronological report writing.

Superhero non-chronological report

We often ask children to write factual reports about animals – but you can also use the same approach to write a report about a superhero. This free Pie Corbett resource will show you exactly how to do it.

Non-chronological report medium-term plan for Year 2

This three-week sequence for KS1 is a sample resource from No Nonsense Literacy. The key learning outcome is to write a non-chronological report about an animal of interest.

Pupils will select an object they’re interested in, such as a toy car, and talk about its features. What it is made of, who might use it and why? They’ll then write a report about the object, including a diagram.

How to write a sports story

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.

Non-chronological report examples

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 includes everything from polar bears and ancient Greeks to space school, The Day of the Dead and the fictional poison mantis frog.

Features of a non-chronological report PowerPoint

Run through what goes into non-chronological reports with your 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.

Sports non-chronological report template

This writing frame will support children in creating their own factfile on a sport of their choice. It includes prompts and suggested sections.

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• Part 1- Planning a non-chronological report
• Class Pages
• Class 2 (pre-Sept 2021)
• English Lessons for Home Learning
• My Expert Topic (non-chronological reports unit)

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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Animals Non-Chronological Reports – KS1 Text Types: Writing Planners and Model Texts

Resource Collection WAGOLL: text types writing packs

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Teach children how to write engaging non-chronological reports with this KS1 text types resource pack.

There are sheets to help pupils plan against success criteria, descriptions of what a non-chronological report should include, two detailed model texts showing WAGOLL (what a good one looks like), and collections of facts about lions that children can use to create their own non-chronological reports.

What is included in this KS1 resource pack?

• 2 report model texts: Meerkats and Emperor Penguins These example non-chronological reports can be used to learn the features of this text type. They can be read and annotated by pupils, and a list of features to look for is included at the bottom of the page.
• Report writing sheet This contains a non-chronological report success criteria list as well as examples of conjunctions and adjectives that pupils can use in their own writing.
• Report writing plan This worksheet allows pupils to plan out their non-chronological report text. They could use information from the research sheet.
• Lion fact cards Pupils can use these to create their own non-chronological report about lions. They could organise information using the question cards before writing their report.
• Writing frames These writing frames can be used for pupils to present their work.

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.

This resource is part of the WAGOLL: text types writing packs collection. View more from this collection

• model text - meerkats
• model text - emperor penguins
• report writing sheet
• report writing plan
• Lion fact cards
• Writing frames

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Farm animal KS1 research sheets. Non chronological reports/note taking.

Subject: English

Age range: 5-7

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

4 February 2024

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A set of sheets for children to use when researching farm animals to write a non chronological report.

Space to make notes about habits/sleep, diet, appearance, habitat

Suitable for KS1

Blank sheets included

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

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