Teach pupils in Key Stage 1 how to write recounts using this text types resource pack. Pupils will explore two model texts showing WAGOLL (what a good one looks like) and learn to sequence events in order, describe experiences with adjectives, and use past tense verbs accurately.
The resources help pupils write about real events, such as a school trip or a visiting theatre company.
What’s included in this KS1 recounts resource pack
Model text 1 – Our Farm Visit
A simple recount of a class trip to a local farm. Pupils read about feeding chickens, petting sheep and grooming horses. They'll see how to organise events in chronological order and add descriptive language to make their writing engaging.
Model text 2 – Panto Time!
A recount of a theatre company performing Jack and the Beanstalk in school. Pupils see examples of first-person narration, using time adverbials and conjunctions to link ideas, and describing exciting moments using adjectives.
Recount writing sheet
A PDF with success criteria for recount writing, including examples of past tense verbs, subordinating conjunctions, and the correct use of capital letters.
Sequencing cards
Cards with time adverbials to support pupils in ordering events orally before writing.
Recount writing plan
A worksheet that helps pupils plan their own recounts, thinking about what happened, the order of events, and which details to include.
Writing paper
Themed PDFs for pupils to present their work neatly.
What is a recount?
A recount is written in the past tense about events that have already happened. Examples include diaries, letters, postcards, newspaper reports, school trips, or retellings of events. Pupils will learn to include a title, first-person perspective, time adverbials, conjunctions like and, but, because, when, and descriptive adjectives.
National Curriculum links
Year 1 – Pupils write sentences by saying out loud what they plan to write, sequence ideas into short narratives, and begin to punctuate sentences with capital letters.
Year 2 – Pupils write about real events, plan or speak their ideas aloud before writing, use both familiar and new punctuation correctly, include subordination (when, if, that, because), and write past and present tense verbs consistently, including the progressive form.
This resource provides everything you need to guide pupils in reading, planning, writing and presenting high-quality recounts in KS1.