The note
How schools teach it now
Schools teach newspaper reports with a headline, an opening paragraph answering the 5 Ws (who, what, where, when, why), more detail in later paragraphs, and a quote from a witness. Reports use the third person and the past tense, with a formal, factual tone.
5-minute kitchen-table activity
Read a short news story together and spot the 5 Ws in the first paragraph. Then your child writes a mini report about something from your day ('Local Family Survives Burnt Toast Disaster'), with a headline, the 5 Ws and a made-up quote from a family member.
Worked example
Write the headline and opening paragraph of a report on a sports day that was rained off.
- Headline: short and catchy, maybe with alliteration: 'Sports Day Soaked by Sudden Storm'.
- Opening: who, what, where, when and why in one or two sentences.
- Keep it in the third person and past tense; add a quote later.
Answer: Sports Day Soaked by Sudden Storm. Pupils at Oakfield Primary had to abandon their sports day on Friday afternoon when a thunderstorm flooded the school field.
Common mistakes to watch for
- Writing it like a story ('Once upon a time...') instead of facts first.
- Using 'I' and personal opinions in a news report.
- Leaving the 5 Ws until the end instead of the opening paragraph.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “A reader would know exactly what happened from your first paragraph.”
- Rather than
- “Reports are boring, just get it done.”