A non-chronological report is a non-fiction text which is not organised into time order. They usually deal with one topic, using sub-headings to split the text up into ideas. For example, a non-chronological text about otters could include sections on their diet, habitat and life cycle, each with its own sub-heading.
These reports often include pictures and diagrams to illustrate and explain the topic.
Teach your children about non-chronological reports using our handy topic guide!
Teaching Ideas
- This Powerpoint presentation gives an overview of report structure and features, perfect for starting your report writing unit.
- Give children an example of a non-chronological report and ask them to find and highlight the different features.
- Ask the children to make a list of questions that their audience might like answered about the topic, and check that they are all answered in their report.
- Give the children some muddled up sentences about a topic, and ask them to organise them into paragraphs.
- Help your children to format bullet points correctly with this BBC Bitesize guide and activity.
- Ask children to create their non-chronological report in presentation software, such as Powerpoint.
- Ask your class to write a school guide, using this template.
- Create a report about an animal, this activity about foxes could be adapted to suit your topic.
- Use this BBC Teach video and accompanying teaching ideas to support children in planning and organising their reports.
- Show children an informative video related to your current topic, and ask them to present the key information in a non-chronological report.
Resources
- Our Report Writing Pack is full of useful resources, including checklists, examples and a comprehensive guide.
- Literacy WAGOLL (What A Good One Looks Like) has plenty of examples to share with the children.
- This detailed progression from years 1 – 6 is useful for planning a unit of work on non-chronological reports.
- This simple report template could be used for any topic.
Non-Chronological Report Facts
- “Non-chronological” means “not in time order”.
- If a bullet point is a complete sentence, it needs a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark at the end. If it is just a word or phrase, it does not.
- Each new bullet point goes on a new line.
- Non-chronological reports are usually, but not always, written in the present tense.
- A glossary is a useful addition to a non-chronological report, to explain technical vocabulary.
Videos
Features of non-chronological reports
In this short video, a teacher runs through a non-chronological report about non-chronological reports, focusing on the features.
Running time: 3:51
Animal Fact Files
This is the first of a series of three useful videos that give plenty of information for children to produce non-chronological reports about sharks, foxes, elephants and penguins. The other two look at appearance and habitat.
Running time: 1:45
Literacy – What are Subheadings?
This lesson models how to organise topics into subheadings, with tasks for the children to complete.
Running time: 8:15
Non-chronological report on woolly mammoths
This is a lovely example of using actions to help younger children learn the structure and features of a non-chronological report.
Running time: 3:26
Books
Dragonology
This beautiful book is a popular stimulus for non-chronological report writing.
Dinosaur Encyclopedia
This book (like most titles from Dorling Kindersley) is a great example of how to present information.
Going Fast
A levelled non-chronological report for younger readers.
Links
- The DKfindout! site is perfect for researching topics and a great example of how to make non-chronological reports engaging and easy to read.
- Kiddle is a child friendly search engine, which makes it easier for children to find reliable information online.
- There are lots of quizzes, matching activities and other fun ways to consolidate this topic on Wordwall.
- This School Run page is a useful overview for children to refer to.
Are you teaching your children about other topics? Explore our full collection of guides!
