News report: the go-around

English Age group: KS3 and KS4: formal writing and structure

A plane breaks off its landing and climbs away. Report it like a journalist.

Before you start

Read or play with these Learn topics first.

Choose an airport

Latest weather report (explained in "How do you read an airport weather report?")

Name: ______________________ Date: ____________

Use the live board for this worksheet.

Watch a clip of a go-around (or use the facts below). Write a headline of no more than 8 words. Facts: the runway was not clear, the plane climbed away safely, it landed ten minutes later.
Write the opening paragraph: who, what, where, when, why.
Add a quote from a pilot or controller. Why do reports use quotations?
Rewrite your report for a younger audience. What changes in tone and vocabulary?

Ten questions on this lesson. Pupils open the link on any device. Nothing is stored about them.

Teacher notes and answers

Suggested answers. Many will vary with the live data, so check units and working. The curriculum links are a guide only.

Model: "Jet aborts landing and climbs away safely" (7 words). Look for a strong verb, the key fact and no wasted words.
The first paragraph should answer all five questions in a few short sentences (the "inverted pyramid": most important facts first).
Quotes add a human voice, give evidence and make the report more trustworthy and interesting. Check for correct punctuation of speech.
Shorter sentences, simpler words, friendlier tone, perhaps an explanation of "go-around". Discuss how audience and purpose change language.