This Year 2 Real Writing unit, based on a model text by published children’s author Dan Smith, guides pupils through the structure and language of non-fiction reports.
Over two to three weeks, pupils explore how subheadings and question sentences organise information, practise spelling irregular past tense verbs, create expanded noun phrases and apply accurate punctuation.
The sequence builds towards pupils writing their own report on historical transport, by land, air or sea, linking writing objectives with history topics on transport, and life beyond living memory.
Curriculum links
This unit supports Year 2 English objectives in writing composition, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation. It also links with history, where pupils explore change over time and significant individuals linked to transport.
Additional skills revisited:
- Using apostrophes in contracted words
- Writing using the correct tense
- Using co-ordinating conjunctions (and, but, or)
- Using commas to separate items in a list
- Rereading and proofreading writing for accuracy
- Reading aloud to check for meaning
Vocabulary
- Tier 2 words: invent, invention, soar
- Tier 3 words: aeroplane, cart, hot air balloon, passengers, penny-farthing, propeller, steam locomotive, tram, transport
- Common exception words: behind, old, fast, past, move, improve, people, kind, after, many, any, most, find, would, could
Activities and teaching sequence
Phase 1 – Familiarisation
- Begin with images of historical transport and discuss what pupils notice.
- Read the model text together and identify features such as subheadings, tense and factual tone.
- Explore vocabulary using image and definition cards for Tier 2 and Tier 3 words.
- Match words to meanings, then identify them within the text.
- Introduce subheadings and show how they help organise ideas.
- Map a section of the model text, summarising key points visually or orally.
Phase 2 – Teaching and rehearsing
- Practise using and spelling irregular past tense verbs.
- Write expanded noun phrases to describe transport from the past.
- Form and punctuate question sentences.
- Identify conjunctions, commas and apostrophes in the model text and use them in new sentences.
- Revisit common exception words through reading and spelling practice.
Phase 3 – Application
- Plan and write a report on a chosen type of transport.
- Use subheadings, expanded noun phrases and question sentences to structure the text.
- Encourage oral rehearsal before writing.
- Support pupils to edit, read aloud and refine their reports using a checklist.
Resources included
- Model text by Dan Smith in plain, illustrated and annotated formats (PDF)
- Annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint slides
- Vocabulary, common exception word and conjunction cards
- Report features poster and planning sheet
- Teaching notes and slides for each lesson
- Writer’s checklist and differentiated activity sheets
Outcomes
By the end of the unit, pupils will:
- Write a clear, structured report using appropriate subheadings
- Use expanded noun phrases and correct past tense verbs
- Apply accurate punctuation, including commas and apostrophes
- Read and edit their writing for sense and accuracy
- Demonstrate understanding of historical transport through factual writing