Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Final Whistle Reporter: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 5
- ForYear 5
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Final Whistle Reporter is a free printable English worksheet for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10). Children report on a real match or PE lesson they have just played. They practise writing a past tense recount with a punchy headline, direct speech and a player of the match note. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch task and the answers.
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, give page 1 to the child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children act as a sports reporter for a match or PE lesson they have just played. Page 1 has numbered questions with space to answer and lines for writing. They plan a punchy headline of six words or fewer, list three past tense action verbs and write an opening sentence that says who played, where and when. They then build the recount, using direct speech and a player of the match note.
- Write a punchy headline of six words or fewer.
- List three past tense action verbs you will use, such as scored.
- Write your opening sentence: who played, where and when.
How the sheet builds a match report
Plan before writing
The headline and the verb list come first. Children decide what mattered most and collect strong words before they write full sentences.
Open with the key facts
The opening sentence answers who, where and when. A reader who stops after one line still knows what the report is about.
Tell it in order
A recount follows events as they happened. Children keep the past tense and use time words to move from one moment to the next.
Add voices and a verdict
A quote from a player or coach brings the match to life. The player of the match note lets the reporter give an opinion and a reason.
Why write about a game you have just played?
Sports reports are one of the most familiar kinds of writing. Children see them in newspapers, on club websites and in TV highlights. A report is a recount, so it tells what happened in the order it happened, usually in the past tense. It also has a clear style: a short headline, a strong opening and a few quotes from people who were there.
Writing straight after a game helps because the memories are fresh. Children do not have to invent anything. They can focus on word choice, sentence openings and punctuation instead. Every child in the group was part of the same event, so they can also compare reports and see how different writers describe the same moments.
Skills and curriculum link
- Past tense recount
- Direct speech
- Punchy headlines
- Strong action verbs
- Opening sentences
- Giving an opinion with a reason
Ideas that help with a match report
- Headlines are shortHeadlines often leave out small words so that the main idea is quick to read. Children can try cutting words until only the strongest are left.
- Verbs carry the actionA precise verb does more work than a plain verb with an adverb added. Children can compare how different verbs change the picture in the reader's mind.
- Quotes need careful punctuationSpoken words go inside inverted commas. A comma, full stop, question mark or exclamation mark comes before the closing inverted commas.
- Opinions need reasonsA player of the match choice is stronger with a reason. Children can use the word because to link the choice to something the player did.
Key words
- RecountWriting that tells what happened in the order it happened.
- Past tenseVerbs that show something has already happened, such as ran or passed.
- HeadlineA short, bold title at the top of a report that grabs the reader.
- Direct speechThe exact words someone said, written inside inverted commas.
- Speech verbA verb that shows how something was said, such as shouted or whispered.
- Fronted adverbialA word or phrase at the start of a sentence that tells when, where or how. It is usually followed by a comma.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Play a short match or PE game first. Children then write straight away while the action is fresh.
- Work through the first part together. Talk about the headline and the verbs before any full sentences are written.
- Let the child finish the report alone, then read it aloud. Check it against the notes and answers on page 2.
- Come back another day with a different game. Repeating a familiar task builds confidence and better word choices.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Give a sentence starter for each part of the report. Let the child talk through the match with a partner first, then say what they remember out loud. Write down two or three key moments before they start the full sentences.
To stretch confident children
Add a second quote with a stronger speech verb, such as boomed or sighed. Start one sentence with a fronted adverbial and put a comma after it. Then check that every verb in the report is in the past tense.
Make it a game
Read reports aloud in a TV sports voice, without saying the teams or the sport. The listeners guess which match each report describes. Then talk about which words or details gave it away.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forThe report slips between past and present tense, such as "he scores and then we cheered".
Try thisRead it aloud and ask, "Has this already happened?" Change each verb that says no, so the whole report stays in the past.
Watch forQuotation marks go round the whole sentence, not only the spoken words.
Try thisUnderline the exact words the person said. Only those words go inside the inverted commas. The rest, such as said the captain, stays outside.
Watch forThe headline is a full sentence and is too long.
Try thisCross out small words one at a time and keep the strongest nouns and verbs. Count the words until there are six or fewer.
Talk about it
- Which moment of the game will you remember longest, and why?
- Which verb made the action sound most exciting?
- Who said something memorable, and what might they have said?
- How is a headline different from the first sentence of the report?
- Who would you choose as player of the match, and what is your reason?
- If a reporter on the other team wrote about this game, what might they leave out or add?
Take it off the page
Playground reporters
Play a short game outside. Take turns to be the reporter and tell the rest of the group what happened, using only past tense verbs.
Interview a player
One child plays a team member and the other asks questions. Write down two of the answers as direct speech, with the correct punctuation.
Headline challenge
Choose a family event from last weekend. Write three different headlines for it, each of six words or fewer. Vote on the best.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first part, then let them lead. Ask them to tell you the story of the game before they write. Praise good verbs and clear quotes, and point out any tense slips gently.
Teachers
Use it after a PE lesson, a house match or a school fixture. It works as a plenary, an early finisher task or homework. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with a family kickabout, a trip to the park or a local club match. The sheet then uses a real experience, and siblings of different ages can each write their own report.
Where this fits in children's writing
Before this sheet, children will have met recounts, past tense verbs and simple direct speech in earlier years. They will have written short accounts of trips and events, and will know that inverted commas show the words someone said.
After this sheet, children can move towards building cohesion across paragraphs, using time words and linking phrases to connect one part of a report to the next. They can also practise choosing more precise vocabulary and editing their own work for tense and punctuation.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Final Whistle Reporter for?
It is written for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10), in Key Stage 2. Children in nearby year groups can use it too, with extra support for younger writers or extra challenge for older ones.
- What will children practise?
They practise writing a past tense sports recount. This includes a punchy headline, direct speech with correct punctuation and a player of the match note that gives an opinion with a reason.
- Do children need to play a match first?
It works best if they do. The sheet asks them to report on a real match or PE lesson they have just played. A short game in the garden, playground or hall is enough.
- What if it feels too hard?
Give a sentence starter for each part and let the child talk through the match with a partner first. Writing down two or three key moments before starting also helps.
- How can I stretch confident writers?
Ask for a second quote using a stronger speech verb, such as boomed or sighed, and a fronted adverbial at the start of a sentence. They can also check that every verb stays in the past tense.
- Is it free and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is free to print for home and classroom use. No colour is needed. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Print both pages, and keep page 2 for the grown up.
- 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 plan, and print it again for brothers, sisters or revision.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.