This Year 6 writing unit from our Real Writing collection focuses on reports and is built around an original model text by Anita Loughrey, Small, but Mighty!. This text explains what microorganisms are.
All texts in the Real Writing series are written by published children’s authors and follow a carefully mapped framework. Each unit comes with two to three weeks of detailed lesson planning, giving teachers clear guidance to deliver engaging and structured lessons.
In this two-week unit, pupils will explore microorganisms and their roles in the natural world, food production and disease. They'll develop their understanding of semi-colons, colons and dashes to link independent clauses and use prefixes and suffixes to create diminutives.
They will then apply this knowledge, alongside independent research, to write their own reports on a chosen aspect of microorganisms. This unit works well as part of science topics on living things, microorganisms or classification.
Curriculum links
This unit addresses Year 6 English objectives:
- Vocabulary: using prefixes and suffixes to form diminutives
- Grammar: using semi-colons, colons and dashes to separate independent clauses
Pupils will practise additional writing skills, including parenthesis, adverbials, noun phrases, layout devices, hyphens, passive voice, cohesive devices and précis writing.
Vocabulary
Pupils encounter subject-specific vocabulary alongside Tier 2 and statutory spelling words:
- Tier 2: miniscule, strand
- Tier 3: algae, antibiotic, bacteria, cell, decay, decompose, enzyme, ferment, fungi, microbe, microbiology, micro-organism, microscope, mineral, parasite, photosynthesis, vaccination, virus
- Statutory spelling: category, categorise, familiar
This vocabulary supports both reading comprehension and precise writing.
Resources
The unit includes:
- Model text in PDF (plain, illustrated, annotated)
- Annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations
- Vocabulary cards and matching activities
- Science investigation suggestions and image cards
- Research and margin planning sheets
- Report writing and précis posters
- Writing skills checklists
Key teaching activities
Begin by investigating microorganisms through hands-on science activities. Next, read and analyse the model text, identify report features, explore new vocabulary and précis the text to practise summarising information concisely.
Pupils will then practise using diminutives, semi-colons, colons and dashes, revisit punctuation (parenthesis, hyphens) and investigate layout devices and cohesive structures. Research activities will guide pupils in gathering information about microorganisms.
Finally, pupils will plan and write their own reports on microorganisms, focusing on food production, natural environments or disease.
Outcomes
By the end of this unit, pupils will:
- Write clear, structured and detailed reports on microorganisms
- Use semi-colons, colons and dashes correctly to join independent clauses
- Apply prefixes and suffixes to form diminutives accurately
- Use subject-specific vocabulary, Tier 2 words and statutory spellings confidently
- Summarise texts effectively using précis skills
- Edit and refine their writing for grammar, punctuation and vocabulary
This unit equips pupils with practical writing skills, scientific literacy and cross-curricular understanding, enabling them to communicate complex information clearly and accurately.