Timeline talk
Put cards of key life events in order. Pairs retell the life in sentences with time adverbials.
Writing · Level 3 · Years 5 and 6 · Unit 5 of 6 · Biography
A biography
Children research a real person and write a biography in chronological order, with relative clauses and a closing reflection.
8sessions
60minutes each
Years 5 and 6ages 10 to 12
A2 to B1CEFR
By the end
Children write a biography of four paragraphs: an introduction, early life, key achievements, and legacy, using relative clauses and time adverbials.
How the unit runs
8 sessions, 8 parts
Every writing unit follows the same eight parts: read, talk, learn the sentence skill, plan, write together, write alone, check, publish. This unit fits them into 8 sessions of about 60 minutes.
| Session | Parts | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | Part 1: Read and enjoy | Read and enjoy "Wangari Maathai". Find 3 features to notice. |
| Session 2 | Part 2: Talk it | Oral rehearsal games: Timeline talk, Who, which, where, Why does it matter?. |
| Session 3 | Part 3: Sentence skill | Teach the sentence skill: Relative clauses. |
| Session 4 | Part 4: Plan | Plan on the frame: my biography plan. |
| Session 5 | Part 5: Shared write | The teacher models the writing, thinking aloud. |
| Session 6 | Part 6: Independent write | Children write independently, with support and stretch. |
| Session 7 | Part 7: Check | Check against the success criteria and the editing checklist. |
| Session 8 | Part 8: Publish | Publish for a real reader on the printable template. |
Curriculum link. Years 5 and 6 composition: noting and developing initial ideas, drawing on reading and research where necessary; using a wide range of devices to build cohesion; ensuring the consistent and correct use of tense. Appendix 2: relative clauses (Year 5); adverbials of time. Sources: see the end of this page.
Part 1 of 8
Read and enjoy a model text
Read it aloud first, or press the button. Talk about what the writer has done before anyone writes. This text was written for Litlings and is free to copy for your class.
Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan scientist and activist who dedicated her life to protecting the environment and helping women.
She was born in 1940 in a village in Kenya, where she grew up close to nature. She was a bright student, and later she travelled abroad to study biology. Eventually, she became the first woman in East and Central Africa to earn a doctorate.
In 1977, she founded the Green Belt Movement, which encouraged women to plant trees and earn a small income. Over the following decades, millions of trees were planted. In 2004, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, making her the first African woman to receive it.
Wangari Maathai died in 2011, but her work lives on. Her story reminds us that one determined person can inspire many others to make a difference.
What to notice
- who dedicated her life / where she grew up / which encouraged womenRelative clauses add detail without starting a new sentence.
- In 1977, / In 2004, / Eventually,Time adverbials keep the life story in order.
- Her story reminds us...A closing reflection says why this person matters.
Part 2 of 8
Talk it: oral rehearsal
Talk comes before writing. Children say the sentences, then the paragraph, before the pencil moves.
Who, which, where
Say two short sentences about a person. Join them with who, which or where. Compare versions.
Why does it matter?
Say one sentence about the person's legacy: Because of her, ___. Share the best with a partner.
Part 3 of 8
Sentence skill: Relative clauses
A relative clause adds detail about a person, thing or place using who, which, where, whose or that. Commas often frame extra information.
Teach it in four steps
- Open with who the person was and why they are famous.
- Write about early life, then achievements, then legacy, in order with time adverbials.
- Join extra detail with who, which, where or whose, and put commas around non-essential clauses.
- Close with why the person matters.
Examples
| Start | Becomes or shows |
|---|---|
| She founded the Green Belt Movement. It encouraged women to plant trees. | She founded the Green Belt Movement, which encouraged women to plant trees. |
| She grew up in a village. She loved nature there. | She grew up in a village where she loved nature. |
| Mary found fossils. She lived in Lyme Regis. | Mary, who lived in Lyme Regis, found fossils. |
Part 4 of 8
Plan: My biography plan
Choose a real person and plan four paragraphs. Children say each part aloud to a partner first, then jot notes. Type here, or print the frame to use on paper. It prints on one A4 page.
My biography plan
NameDate
Choose a real person and plan four paragraphs.
Who and why famousName, job, one big achievement.
Early lifeBorn when and where? Childhood?
Key achievementsThree events in order, with dates.
Legacy and closingWhy does this person matter today?
Relative clauses to addwho ___, which ___, where ___.
Part 6 of 8
Independent write
The task
Write a biography of a real person you have researched. Use four paragraphs, time adverbials and at least three relative clauses.
Sentence starters
- ___ was a ___ who ___.
- She/He was born in ___, where ___.
- In ___, ___ founded ___, which ___.
- Eventually, ___.
- Today, ___ is remembered because ___.
Word bank
- achievement
- inspire
- devoted
- campaigned
- discovered
- eventually
- throughout
- legacy
- pioneer
- determined
Support
Give a fact timeline to fill in and a bank of relative clause starters. Provide a fact sheet about the person.
Stretch
Add a quote from the person and a short timeline sidebar.
English as an additional or foreign language. Give a timeline template with pictures and a relative clause table. Rehearse the story of the person's life aloud first.
Part 7 of 8
Check: success criteria and editing
Children read their writing aloud, tick what they have done and fix what they have not. Ticks are saved on this device only.
Success criteria
Editing checklist
Part 8 of 8
Publish for a real reader
Create a class Hall of Fame with a portrait and the biography of each person. Present to the class.
Printable template: Biography page
One A4 page, blank for handwriting. Print from the browser or download the PDF.
Biography
NameDate
Add a portrait, key facts, a timeline and your paragraphs.
Portrait
Name, dates, famous for
TimelineDate and event, in order
My biography
Why this person matters
Keep going
In this course
Elsewhere on the site
Sources
- National curriculum in England: English programmes of study (DfE)
- English Appendix 2: vocabulary, grammar and punctuation (DfE)
- Improving Literacy in Key Stage 2 (EEF)
Curriculum statements are paraphrased from the documents above. Model texts and activities are original to Litlings.