Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Christmas Newspaper Report: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 5
- ForYear 5
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Christmas Newspaper Report is a free printable English worksheet for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10). Children report on a Santa sighting and fill in each part of the report: a headline, who was seen, where it happened, what happened in order, a witness quote and what happens next. It needs only a pencil and paper.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Page 2 is for the grown up and has notes, help, a stretch idea and the answers. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet works like a planning frame for a newspaper report. Children first write a short, catchy headline. Then they describe who was seen and where it happened. Next they say what happened, in order. They add a witness quote in speech marks and end by saying what happens next. Children plan on the lines, then write the report up neatly on a separate sheet or in a book.
- Headline: write a short, catchy title
- Who was seen? Describe what you saw
- Where did it happen?
- What happened? Say it in order
- A witness said: write a quote in speech marks
- What happens next? End your report
Worked example: a snowman on the school field
Plan a short report about a snowman that appeared on a school field overnight.
This is not the sheet's topic. It shows two ways to plan before writing.
Method 1: use the five questions- Who? A large snowman, and the caretaker who found it.
- Where? On the school field.
- When? Early on Monday morning, before school began.
- What? The snowman appeared overnight after a fall of snow.
- Why? Nobody knows, which is what makes it interesting.
- List the events in order: snow fell overnight, the caretaker found a snowman on the field, children came to look, nobody knew who had built it.
- Ask which event is the most surprising. Here it is the last one: nobody knew who had built it.
- Turn that fact into a few strong words for the headline.
- Write the body of the report in the past tense, in the order of your list.
How a newspaper report fits together
The headline
A headline is short and catchy. It tells readers the main news in a few words and makes them want to read on.
The opening
The first part says who, what and where. A reader should know the main facts after the first few lines.
The events and the witness
Next, the report tells what happened in order. A witness quote, inside speech marks, adds a real voice to the story.
The ending
A good report finishes by looking ahead. It says what happens next or what people are waiting to find out.
What makes a newspaper report different?
A newspaper report tells readers about an event. It is written in the past tense and in the third person, so the writer says "the crowd gathered" and not "we gathered". It answers the questions who, what, where, when and why. The most important facts come first, and the headline sums up the news in just a few words.
Reports often include quotes from people who saw the event. These are called witnesses. Their exact words go inside speech marks, and a reporter can also tell readers what someone said without using the exact words. A Santa sighting is a playful topic, so children can focus on the structure and the language of a report and have fun with the story.
Skills and curriculum link
- Report writing
- Writing headlines
- Using the past tense
- Speech marks and quotes
- Planning with who, what, where, when and why
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | English | Writing: composition | Year 5 |
What children will be able to do
- I can plan a report using who, what, where, when and why.
- I can write a headline that grabs attention.
- I can write in the past tense like a reporter.
Four things to remember
- HeadlineKeep it short and catchy. A few strong words work better than a long sentence.
- Past tenseA report tells what already happened. Use words like saw, landed and said.
- Speech marksPut speech marks around the exact words the witness spoke, and nothing else.
- OrderTell events in the order they happened so readers can follow the story.
Key words
- HeadlineThe short title at the top of a news story.
- WitnessA person who saw an event happen.
- QuoteThe exact words someone said, written inside speech marks.
- Speech marksThe marks that go before and after spoken words.
- Reported speechTelling what someone said without their exact words, such as: she said that she heard bells.
- Past tenseVerbs that show something has already happened.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
- Read the sheet together. Ask your child what a newspaper report is for and where they have seen one.
- Let your child plan each part on the lines. Talk about each choice as they go.
- Ask them to write the report up neatly on a separate sheet or in a book. Check it against the notes and answers on page 2.
- Come back another day and try a new sighting or a new headline. Repeating a familiar task builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Give a sentence starter for each line, such as "Last night, a sleigh was seen". Let your child say the whole story aloud first. Fill in one part at a time and take a short break between parts.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to add a second witness with a different point of view. One person might be excited and another might doubt what they saw. Challenge them to use formal language in the report, like a real reporter.
Make it a game
Read the finished reports aloud like a news presenter. Use a clear, serious voice. Listeners can guess the who, where and when, then say which headline they liked best and why.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forThe headline is a long sentence that runs across the page.
Try thisAsk for the main news in just a few words. Cross out small words and keep the strongest ones.
Watch forThe witness quote has no speech marks, or the marks go round the whole sentence.
Try thisPut speech marks only around the words the witness said out loud. Read the quote aloud to check.
Watch forThe report jumps back and forth, or slips into the present tense.
Try thisNumber the events in order before writing. For each verb ask: did this already happen? If yes, use the past tense.
Talk about it
- Where have you seen a newspaper report, and what did it look like?
- Why does a headline need to be short?
- Who would be a good witness for a Santa sighting, and why?
- How would a witness who was excited sound different from one who was unsure?
- Which of the five questions was hardest to answer?
- What do you think happens next, and how can your ending make readers curious?
Take it off the page
Family newsreader
Each person writes a one line headline about something that happened at home this week. Take turns to read them like a news presenter.
Interview a witness
Ask a family member to describe something they saw today. Write down their exact words with speech marks, then retell them without the exact words.
Front page
Fold a sheet of paper into a front page. Add a headline, a drawing and a short report about a made up event in your street.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. Short bursts work better than long sessions. If they are stuck, ask them to tell you the story aloud before writing it down.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the sheet fits a unit on writing reports.
Home educators
Pair it with a real newspaper or news website for children. Look at headlines together, then write the report. It works well alongside reading, drama and everyday talk, and you can reuse it for brothers and sisters.
Where this fits in children's writing
Before this sheet, children practise writing clear sentences with extra detail. The Mini Minds Hub sheet Fronted Adverbial Cards, one year down, helps with this. Fronted adverbials can open a report with when or where, such as "Late last night,".
After this sheet, children plan and write longer pieces and organise information more carefully. The Mini Minds Hub sheet Bullet Points and Lists, one year up, is a good next step. A report is also a useful model for any writing that needs facts in a clear order.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- How did the five questions help you plan?
- What makes a good headline?
- What would you change to make your report clearer?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Christmas Newspaper Report for?
It is written for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10), in Key Stage 2. Confident Year 4 children may enjoy it, and with sentence starters it can support children who need more help.
- What will children practise?
Children plan and write a short newspaper report using who, what, where, when and why. They also practise writing a headline, using the past tense and putting a witness quote in speech marks.
- What is on page 2?
Page 2 is for the grown up. It has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, a stretch idea and the answers.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Give a sentence starter for each line, such as "Last night, a sleigh was seen". Let them tell the story aloud first, then write one part at a time.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or a repeat go a few weeks later.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children plan and write by hand, and talking the story through together is part of the fun.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. Home educators and tutors can use it alone or as part of a wider English plan. It needs no preparation beyond printing.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.