An information report is a text that presents facts about a topic, arranged into a clear shape so a reader can find information quickly and confidently. Every information report is built from four parts, always in the same order.
The title names the topic in as few words as possible, for example "Echidnas". The classification, sometimes called the opening statement, is the first sentence or two. It makes a general statement that places the topic into a group: an animal, a place, a process or a thing. After that come the body paragraphs. Each body paragraph covers ONE subtopic only, such as appearance, habitat, diet or behaviour, and opens with a topic sentence before adding supporting facts. Never mix two subtopics in the same paragraph, it makes the report confusing to follow. Finally, the conclusion sums up the topic in a sentence or two, sometimes adding a closing comment about why the topic matters.
Title: Echidnas
Classification: Echidnas are small, spiny mammals found across Australia.
Body paragraph: An echidna's body is covered in sharp, brown spines that protect it from predators. It uses its long snout to sniff out termites and ants, then catches them with a long, sticky tongue.
Conclusion: Echidnas are one of only two mammals in the world that lay eggs, making them one of the most unusual animals in the Australian bush.
Read the short information report below. It is written as four numbered parts, in order. Match each part to its correct label by writing the matching letter in the blank.
Information reports use a different kind of language from a story. Four features make report writing sound like a report.
Present tense: use is, are and has instead of was, were and had. Facts about a topic stay true right now, not just in the past.
General nouns: write about the whole group, such as "Echidnas..." rather than one named individual, such as "My pet echidna, Eddy...". A report tells the reader about the whole species or topic, not one pet.
Facts, not opinions: state what can be checked and shown to be true. Leave out opinion words like amazing, boring, best or worst, and phrases like I think or I love.
Subject vocabulary: use precise, technical words for the topic, such as spines, snout and termites, instead of vague, everyday words like spiky bits, nose and bugs.
Before: My pet echidna Eddy was so cute. He ran around and ate bugs all day. It was awesome to watch him dig.
After: Echidnas are solitary animals that forage alone. They use their long snout to sniff out insects, then dig quickly with their strong claws to reach them.
Read each sentence. Write F in the blank if it is a fact (something that can be checked and shown to be true), or O if it is an opinion (what someone thinks or feels).
Each sentence below is an opinion. Rewrite it as a factual sentence a report could use: present tense, a general noun instead of a name, and no opinion words. There is more than one correct answer, just make sure your sentence states something that can be checked and shown to be true.
1. Sharks are terrifying.
2. My dog is the best pet in the world.
3. Rainforests are boring.
4. I think spiders are gross.
Before writing an information report, plan it first. A planning table stops you forgetting ideas or mixing subtopics together, and it gives you a chance to check your facts before you turn them into sentences.
Down one side of the table, list two or three subtopics: different parts of the topic, such as appearance, habitat, diet or behaviour. Each subtopic will become one body paragraph. Next to each subtopic, jot down two facts as short notes, not full sentences yet, just enough to remind you what to write later.
Planning also helps you keep each paragraph focused on just one subtopic, which makes the finished report much easier for a reader to follow.
Planning a report about wombats:
| Subtopic | Fact 1 | Fact 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Diet | eats grasses, roots and bark | grazes mostly at night |
Read the facts about green sea turtles below, then sort them into the planning table. Write two matching facts next to each subtopic, in your own short notes.
Green sea turtles have a smooth, heart-shaped shell. Green sea turtles live in tropical and subtropical oceans, including the Great Barrier Reef. Adult green sea turtles mainly eat seagrass and algae growing on the sea floor. An adult green sea turtle can weigh over 130 kilograms. Young green sea turtles also eat small sea creatures. Female green sea turtles swim back to the beach where they hatched to lay their eggs.
| Subtopic | Fact 1 | Fact 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | ||
| Habitat | ||
| Diet |
Choose ONE subtopic from your planning table in Activity 4: Appearance, Habitat or Diet. Write it as a full body paragraph about green sea turtles. Start with a topic sentence that names the subtopic, then add your two facts as full sentences. Remember: present tense, general nouns (not a named turtle), facts only, and precise vocabulary.
For the parent or supervisor: set this page aside before handing over the worksheet.
Same Year 5 English outcomes, printed on A4 with a parent answer sheet, rebuilt around whatever your child is into this week - dinosaurs, Minecraft, horses, you name it.
Make your own printableThis is a fixed example. Sprout writes a fresh, personalised worksheet pack around your child every time - the example is the ad, the product is the personalisation.