Teach pupils how to write informative and engaging biographies with this KS2 resource pack. The theme of “influential people” gives children the chance to research and write about someone they admire. This might be a family member, teacher or friend, or an inspirational public figure.
The pack provides WAGOLL (what a good one looks like) model texts, planning resources and success criteria so pupils can see clear examples before creating their own biographies.
What’s included in the pack?
- Model Text 1 – Great Uncle John
A family biography that shows how to structure a life story in chronological order. Pupils can read and annotate the text while spotting features such as headings, subheadings, adverbials, past tense verbs and third-person writing. - Model Text 2 – Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill
A biography of an Olympic athlete that highlights how to write about achievements, challenges and legacy. Pupils can explore the use of introductions, clear time sequencing, and different sections that focus on early life, career milestones and later contributions. - Biography writing sheet
A pupil-friendly success criteria list with examples of adverbials and past tense verb forms. Pupils can use this to check that their own writing includes the right features. - Biography research sheet
A structured sheet that helps pupils gather facts, dates and key details about the person they are writing about. - Biography writing plan
A worksheet that guides pupils to plan their biography step by step, using information from their research sheet. - Writing frame and themed paper
Resources to help pupils present their finished biographies neatly and clearly.
Features of biographical writing
Pupils will learn that biographies:
- use headings and subheadings to organise information
- begin with an introduction that summarises the subject
- present life events in chronological order
- use the past tense, including past progressive and past perfect
- are written in the third person to give distance and objectivity
- include adverbials to link and expand ideas
Curriculum links
This pack supports the KS2 English curriculum by showing pupils how to:
- plan their writing by studying models and discussing structure, vocabulary and grammar
- use headings, subheadings and other devices to organise information
- write with cohesion across paragraphs, linking ideas and events smoothly
- select language and grammar that suit biographies and make meaning clear
With this WAGOLL resource pack, you can guide pupils to research, plan and write biographies that are structured, informative and enjoyable to read.