Report writing
Teacher’s notes
Background
The following pages help pupils to plan and structure a report about certain animals. It
doesn’t matter if they don’t know much about the animals as all the facts are here for
them. If you want to provide a purpose and audience for their writing then they could
be writing information leaflets for a pet shop. They could look at examples of these
before they begin this writing task to see how they are laid out and what information
they contain.
Sequence of teaching
Read the information about the animals and group the notes together into similar topics
e.g. feeding, exercise. You can decide whether to provide the headings for them, or let
them decide for themselves.
Use the report planning format to record these notes into different paragraphs. At this
stage they may select suitable information to go in the introduction and place this in the
centre.
They now have the information necessary to structure their report into paragraphs. It
doesn’t matter which order the paragraphs go in. They can then write their report,
using the writing frame if needed.
They can redraft their reports, using ICT, and insert relevant pictures for their
information leaflet. Remember, they are not trying to persuade someone to have the
pet, but inform them of how to care for it.
Features of a report
•
Present tense
•
Technical vocabulary
•
Complex sentences
•
General statements (it won’t be about a specific pet)
•
Paragraphs
•
An introduction and a conclusion
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9959
Page 1 of 10
Report writing
Facts about caring for gerbils
Gerbils enjoy human contact but
can sometimes be a bit timid.
Their teeth continue to grow so
they should be provided with
something to gnaw on.
Gerbils live for 3-5 years.
They love to dig, so they need to
have plenty of bedding to make this
possible.
They can be given small pieces of
fruit or vegetables.
Their cage should be cleaned out
once a week.
They need fresh water from a
gravity-fed bottle or in a heavy
bowl.
Always handle them over a soft
surface as they can jump very fast.
They enjoy cardboard tubes to run
through and gnaw on.
They are friendly animals that
rarely bite.
Never pick up a gerbil by its tail, or
it may get a serious injury.
Gerbils hoard food so make sure
their cage is regularly cleaned out.
Potato, rhubarb or tomato leaves
may make them unwell.
They love to climb, so make sure
they have something in their cage
to climb up.
If they are unwell they may need to
see a vet.
If the gerbil is timid, start by
stroking it in its cage to get it used
to your scent.
They are most active during the
evening or night.
They need to have lots of shredded
paper, wood shavings and sawdust
as bedding material.
Gerbils can be kept in a glass
aquarium with a wire mesh led, or
in a purpose built gerbil cage.
A healthy gerbil has bright eyes and
a glossy coat.
© 2009 www.teachitprimary.co.uk
9959
Page 2 of 10
Report writing
Facts about caring for budgies
Budgies live in the wild in
Australia.
Their nails need clipping a few
times a year.
They need plenty of toys to keep
them amused.
In the wild they would eat seeds,
grain and vegetation.
Budgies should have a daily bath.
They can live outdoors in an
aviary.
Small pieces of fresh fruit and
vegetables can be given as treats.
They need to be let out of their
cage to fly around every day.
They enjoy being stroked on their
chest.
They can live up to 15 years.
Budgies can be kept indoors in a
large cage.
A budgie may bite you if it feels
stressed.
The cage should have some
horizontal bars to allow climbing.
Some foods are harmful, especially
lettuce, avocado and potato.
Budgies can be taught how to
mimic sounds and talk.
Covering the cage at night will
encourage the budgie to go to
sleep.
Fresh drinking water should always
be available.
To pick up a budgie, put its back
and wings in your palm.
You need to build up gradually if
They can catch Scaly Beak and will
you want your budgie to perch on
need to see a vet.
your finger.
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9959
Page 3 of 10
Report writing
Facts about caring for canaries
They need special perches to file
their nails and clipping is very
stressful for them.
Their cage should no be placed
near draughts or direct sunlight.
There are many different breeds of
canary, including Gloster, Coroner,
Yorkshire and Fife.
They will keep their yellow colour
if they are occasionally given an
egg to eat.
They will need a cover over their
cage at night to help them to
settle down to sleep.
Canaries can live up to 10 years.
In the wild canaries eat lots of
different seeds, grains and
vegetation.
Their water bottle and feeding
bowls need to be changed and
cleaned daily.
The bars of their cage should be
no wider than 12mm, or they may
escape.
Fresh fruit and vegetables can be
given as treats.
They enjoy playing and need lots
of toys to keep them stimulated.
Canaries can be many different
colours, including: yellow, white,
brown and buff.
The come from the coast of Africa.
You must not feed them any
lemon, sweets or chocolate as it
may make them unwell.
They may need cuttlefish to give
extra calcium and grit to help them
digest their food.
Canaries will bite if they become
worried or stressed.
You should attach a bath to the
side of the cage to allow them to
bathe.
They need regular exercise and
should be allowed to fly outside
their cage daily.
They can also be kept outdoors
and the aviary needs to be large
enough for them to fly around.
They can live in cages with finches
as well.
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9959
Page 4 of 10
Report writing
Facts about caring for hamsters
They are most active at night.
They enjoy cardboard tubes to run
through and chew.
Fresh water should be given in a
gravity fed bottle.
Chinese hamsters like company.
They should be fed on good
quality hamster mix.
Solid hamster wheels are much
safer than ones with metal spokes.
They need something to gnaw on
or their teeth grow too long.
Baby hamsters are hairless and
blind.
They may be injured if they are
dropped.
Russian hamsters are the
smallest and should be kept
in same sex pairs.
At two weeks old hamsters can be
given solid food.
Hamsters live for about 2 to 3
years.
Hamsters store their food in their
cheeks.
They may get exhausted with too
much time in an exercise wheel.
Syrian hamsters prefer to be kept
alone.
Fresh fruit and vegetables should
be given.
They have a short pregnancy of
16 days.
They may store food in their
bedding.
They easily catch colds, so
don’t handle them when you
have a cold.
Syrian hamsters are the largest.
© 2009 www.teachitprimary.co.uk
9959
Page 5 of 10
Report writing
Facts about caring for guinea pigs
They can be kept outdoors
all year round.
Guinea pigs need lots of floor
space and an outdoor run.
Fresh water needs to be available
in a gravity fed bottle.
They need lots of vitamin C,
so add fruit and vegetables
to their diet.
Their pregnancy lasts 60–65 days.
Vitamin C can be added to the
guinea pigs’ water.
They don’t usually like toys
but will play with cardboard tubes
and boxes.
The hutch needs a separate nest
area with fresh bedding.
They need lots of fresh clean hay
to eat.
They rarely scratch or bite, so they
make good pets for young children.
Rabbit food is not suitable for
guinea pigs.
They usually produce a litter of
3-4 babies.
They are from South America.
Place their hutch in a quiet position
as they do not like loud noises.
A healthy guinea pig has bright
eyes and a shiny coat.
They live between 4 and 8 years.
The hutch needs to be
weather-proof and kept in the
shade on sunny days.
If they are running around
indoors, keep them away from
cats and dogs.
Young guinea pigs can start eating They need gnawing materials to
solid food at 3-4 weeks old.
stop their teeth growing too much.
© 2009 www.teachitprimary.co.uk
9959
Page 6 of 10
Report writing
Facts about caring for mice
Cages should contain a nest box
with shredded tissue paper.
The mouse cage should be kept
away from direct sunlight and any
draughts.
When mice breed they can have
between 8 and 10 babies.
They live for 1-2 years.
Mice enjoy playing with toys.
Don’t mix mice with other species
or they will fight.
They are friendly pets and enjoy
human contact.
Take care that they don’t have
sudden changes of temperature.
You can give them a good quality
rodent mix for their main food.
They can have sunflower seeds
and small amounts of fruit
and vegetables.
Their cage should have no gaps
smaller than your finger as they
can squeeze through small spaces.
They like cardboard tubes to run
through and chew on.
They housing needs cleaning once a
week with a mild disinfectant.
They should be cleaned out
once a week.
Take care not to overfeed mice as
they can get too fat.
Mice like to live in groups with
their own kind as company.
Mice don’t eat cheese or other
dairy products.
They need fresh clean drinking
water from a gravity-fed bottle.
Mice like to play with each other.
Use treats on your hand when
holding the mouse.
© 2009 www.teachitprimary.co.uk
9959
Page 7 of 10
Report writing
Facts about caring for parrots
If they appear to be unwell, you
should call a vet.
They can be kept indoors or
outside in an aviary.
They like to play with coconut
shells, seashells or raw vegetables.
They need to be allowed to fly
around every day.
Small pieces of fresh fruit and
vegetables can be given as treats.
There are about 30 species of
African parrot.
The African Grey parrot is the most
well-known species and is very
good at talking.
You can feed them on a good
quality parrot food mix.
They can be trained to sit on a
perch outside of their cage.
They are friendly, intelligent birds
that love human contact.
Parrots will let out a very loud
scream when they want your
attention.
They must have enough space to
spread their wings without
touching the sides of their cage.
Some species of parrot can live for
70 years.
They are very active and enjoy
climbing.
If your parrot looses weight it may
be a sign that it is ill.
In the wild, parrots eat seeds,
grains and other vegetation.
The cage can be covered with a
cloth at night to help them to sleep.
Parrots have a variety of colours
and markings.
They need lots of toys to entertain
and stimulate them.
Chocolate or sweets may harm
your parrot.
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9959
Page 8 of 10
Report writing
Report planning grid
Feeding
Health
Exercise
Introduction
Housing
Handling
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9959
Page 9 of 10
Report writing
Writing frame
How to care for __________________________
Introduction
Housing
How to handle it
Exercise
Feeding
Health
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Page 10 of 10