The PlanBee Blog

Teaching Writing Through Topics: Inspiring Ideas for KS1 and KS2

Teaching writing doesn’t have to be limited to English lessons. When writing is woven through a topic, it suddenly becomes purposeful, engaging and meaningful for children. Linking writing to History, Geography, Science or even Art gives pupils an authentic reason to write and helps them see how writing connects to the world around them. Here are some inspiring ways to teach writing through your topics across KS1 and KS2: 1. Write in Role Writing in role is one of the easiest ways to inspire children. It doesn’t have to be confined to writing as a person either!  Science:  Write a diary from the point of view of a tiny seed as you are planted, watered and grow into a flower.  Write a letter to Earth as Mars describing your landscape, weather and atmosphere. Write a journal entry from a water droplet travelling through the water cycle, from cloud to rain, to river, to sea and back again. Geography:  Take on the role of a newspaper reporter covering a volcanic eruption. Write a breaking news script describing the event and its effects on local people. Write a postcard as an explorer writing home to describe what they can see, hear and feel in whichever environment they are exploring.  FREE Postcard Template for KS1 and KS2 Art Write a letter from the perspective of a famous artist such as Claude Monet, Frida Kahlo or Andy Warhol, explaining your latest artwork, what inspired it and how you feel about it being displayed. Children personify a colour (e.g. “I am blue, calm and cool, the shade of oceans and skies...”) and write a short journal entry about where they appear in the world and how they make people feel. History:  Write a letter as Florence Nightingale to her family describing the hospital at Scutari, what it was like when you first arrived and what you are doing now to help soldiers and improve conditions.  Write a speech by Boudicca before leading your troops into battle against the invading Romans.  Write a newspaper report as a journalist or passenger on board the Titanic.  Writing in character can increase pupil engagement 2. Create Non-chronological Reports Non-chronological reports can be used across the curriculum to present information about a wide range of topics. They’re a great way to encourage children to expand their own knowledge and present what they know in an engaging, organised way.  Geography:  Write a report about rainforests, and their layers, animals and plants.  Research and write a report about a chosen country or capital city, including both physical and human geographical features.  Create a report about a natural disaster (such as an earthquake, tsunami or drought), explaining why they happen and the effects they have.  History:  Write a report explaining the process of mummification in ancient Egypt.  Create a report about castles in medieval England, explaining their features and the roles of people who lived within them.  Explain the process of evacuation in World War 2 in a report, describing why evacuation took place and what life was like for evacuees.  RE:  Write a report explaining what you might see inside a particular place of worship, such as a church, synagogue or gurdwara.  Research and write a report about the life and teachings of the Buddha, Jesus or Muhammad. Science:  Write a report about an animal and its habitat, describing what it eats, where it sleeps and how it has adapted to its environment.  Create a report explaining what magnets are, how they work and examples of how magnets are used in daily life.  Write a report about how plants grow and what they need in order to survive.  3. Creative and Descriptive Writing  Topic work doesn’t always have to be purely factual. Encouraging pupils to write creatively across the curriculum gives pupils the chance to develop imagination while embedding key writing techniques. Art:  Choose a famous artwork, such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night or Monet’s Water Lilies, and challenge children to describe stepping inside it. What can they see and hear? How does the painting make them feel?  Write a story in which a famous sculpture comes to life and describes what it has seen over the years.  What can you see and hear when you step inside a painting? PSHE/Citizenship:  Write a short story where one small act of kindness makes a big difference. Ask children to imagine they are the prime minister. Write a speech describing what they would change to make the world a fairer place.  RE:  Write a reflective piece or poem about the symbolism of light in festivals such as Diwali, Hanukkah or Advent. Retell a story or parable from the point of view of a different character, such as retelling the parable of the Good Samaritan from the point of view of the Samaritan or the story of Purim from the point of view of Mordecai.  History:  Imagine you are an archaeologist and you have just made an important discovery (such as uncovering an ancient Egyptian tomb or an oracle bone from the Shang Dynasty). Write a description of the moment you uncovered the treasure, focusing on using the show-not-tell technique and building suspense.  Rewriting a familiar story in a different period of time. For example, children could rewrite Little Red Riding Hood in the Stone Age, write a Victorian version of Goldilocks where she enters a wealthy family’s parlour after wandering away from a crowded London street, or create an ancient Egyptian version of Jack and the Beanstalk where Jack climbs a magical papyrus stalk that reaches the heavens to meet the gods.   Publish and Share Writing: When children see that their writing has an audience, motivation soars. Turn topic writing into a class book or display board. Share work during assemblies or with other classes within your year group. Publish children’s writing on a school website or blog site.  Teaching writing through topics helps pupils make connections across subjects, improves engagement, and provides meaningful reasons to write. Whether it’s a diary from the Great Fire of London, a persuasive letter about saving the rainforest or a myth inspired by Ancient Greece, topic-based writing brings creativity, purpose and joy to every classroom.