Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
The Case of Missing Tilly: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 3
- ForYear 3
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
The Case of Missing Tilly is a free printable English worksheet for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8). Children read a short news report, then answer questions in full sentences using words from the text. They also have a go at writing a headline. 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 your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children read a short news report about a missing pet and then answer questions that begin with who, what, where, when and why. Each question has space and lines for writing. Children go back to the text to find the facts, then write each answer as a full sentence with a capital letter and a full stop. They also practise writing a headline.
- Who went missing?
- What did the children see on Monday morning?
- Where was Tilly found?
- When was Tilly found?
- Why could Tilly get out of her cage?
How to turn a question into an answer
Start with the question
Look at the first words. Who, what, where, when and why each ask for something different. Say out loud what kind of answer the question wants before you look at the report.
Borrow the words
Most of the question can become the start of the answer. For a different question such as 'Where did the bus stop?', a child could begin 'The bus stopped...'. This shows how to build a sentence, and children then find the missing part in the text.
Find the fact
Go back to the report and look for the part that fits. Underline it with a pencil. Check it matches the question word before you write anything.
Check the sentence
Read the answer aloud. Does it start with a capital letter? Does it end with a full stop? Does it make sense on its own, without the question beside it?
What is a news report?
A news report is a type of nonfiction text. It tells readers about something that has happened, usually in a short, clear way. Reporters try to give the main facts early. They often answer the questions who, what, where, when and why. A headline sits at the top and tells the reader the main point in just a few words.
Reading a news report is good practice for retrieval, which means finding information that is stated in the text. Children learn to scan for the right part, instead of guessing or retelling the whole story. Answering in a full sentence then helps them put their ideas into clear written English, one step at a time.
Skills and curriculum link
- Finding facts in a text
- Answering in full sentences
- Using who, what, where, when and why
- Writing a headline
- Careful reading
Ideas to help with reading and answering
- Question wordsEach question word asks for something different. Who asks about a person or animal. Where asks about a place. When asks about a time. Why asks for a reason. What asks about something that happened.
- Underline firstBefore writing, children can underline the part of the report that answers the question. This keeps answers tied to the text and stops guessing.
- Sentence startersA few opening words help children begin. They can reuse words from the question, then add the missing fact from the report.
- Headlines are shortA headline gives the main point in only a few words. It does not need to be a full sentence, and it should make readers want to read on.
Key words
- ReportA piece of writing that tells readers what happened.
- HeadlineThe short title at the top of a news report. It tells the main point.
- WitnessA person who sees something happen.
- RetrieveFind a fact in a text and use it in your answer.
- Full sentenceA group of words that makes sense on its own. It starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.
- Question wordA word such as who, what, where, when or why that tells you what kind of answer is needed.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the news report together first. Let your child read it aloud if they would like to.
- Read each question aloud. Ask your child which question word it uses and what kind of answer it needs.
- Children write each answer in a full sentence, with a capital letter, a full stop and words from the text. Then they write a headline.
- Check together using page 2. Ask, "Where in the report did you find that?" Come back another day to try again.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Ask your child to underline the answer in the report before they write. Give a sentence starter such as 'Tilly was found...' to get them going. Tackle one question at a time and read each answer back aloud.
To stretch confident children
Ask children to write a second short paragraph reporting what Oak Class did after Tilly was found. They should include who, what, where and when. Then they can write a new headline that covers the whole story.
Make it a game
Play reporter and witness. One child is Maya and answers questions about finding Tilly. The other is the reporter and asks who, what, where, when and why. Swap roles. Answers must be in full sentences.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child answers with one word or a short phrase.
Try thisShow how to reuse the question words to start the sentence. Then add the fact from the report and finish with a full stop.
Watch forA child copies a whole sentence or paragraph from the report.
Try thisAsk which part answers the question. Underline only that part and use just those words in the answer.
Watch forA child forgets the capital letter or the full stop.
Try thisRead the answer aloud and listen for where it starts and stops. Then check the first letter and the end together.
Talk about it
- Why do you think a news report has a headline?
- Which question word was the easiest to answer? Which was the trickiest?
- How did you know which part of the report to use?
- What would you have done if you were one of the children in the report?
- How could you make your headline short but exciting?
- Can you think of a time something went missing at home or at school?
Take it off the page
Family news report
Choose something that happened at home this week. Write a short report with a headline, then read it aloud like a newsreader.
Who, what, where, when, why
Draw five boxes on a sheet of paper and label them with the five question words. Fill them in about a favourite story or a day out.
Headline hunt
Look at headlines in a newspaper with a grown up. Talk about what each one tells you, then write your own for a story from a book.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Praise careful reading as well as correct answers. Short bursts work better than a long session. If they get stuck, ask them to point to the part of the report that helps.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task, homework or supply cover. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the skills fit retrieval and written answers in a full sentence.
Home educators
Pair it with a library book or a real news story that suits children. Talk about who, what, where, when and why in everyday life. The sheet is free to print again for brothers and sisters, or for revision a few weeks later.
Where this skill fits
Before this sheet, children learn to read short texts and talk about what they have read. They also practise writing simple sentences with a capital letter and a full stop. Retrieval questions build on this by asking children to find a fact and write it down clearly.
After this, children can move on to questions that ask them to work out ideas the text only hints at, and to give a reason from the text. Later they summarise what they have read and write their own reports and articles, using headlines and clear structure.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is The Case of Missing Tilly for?
It is written for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8), in Key Stage 2. Children need to read a short report and write full sentence answers, so it suits those who are growing in confidence with reading and writing.
- What will children practise?
They practise reading comprehension. Children retrieve facts from a short nonfiction text, answer questions in full sentences and write a simple headline. They also learn to use the question words who, what, where, when and why.
- How do I use it?
Read the news report together first. Children then answer each question with a capital letter, a full stop and words from the text. Check the answers on page 2 together and talk about where each fact was found.
- What if it feels too hard?
Ask your child to underline the answer in the report before writing. Give a sentence starter such as 'Tilly was found...' to help them begin. Work on one question at a time and read each answer aloud together.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or use it for revision a few weeks later.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Colour is not needed, and the sheet uses only paper and a pencil, so it is a screen free activity for quiet time, rainy days or holidays.
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.