Information Report Writing for Australian Teachers

Teaching Information Report Writing in Australian Primary Schools

An information report is a factual text that describes and classifies a topic. It's one of the core non-fiction text types in the Australian Curriculum, appearing across English, Science, and HASS (Humanities and Social Sciences). From writing about Australian animals in Year 1 to researching historical events in Year 6, information reports are a text type students use throughout primary school — and beyond.

Unlike a recount (which retells events) or a persuasive text (which argues a position), an information report presents factual, organised information about a topic. Students learn to research, organise, and communicate knowledge clearly — skills that transfer directly to secondary school and everyday life.

This page covers the structure and language features of information reports, how they fit into the Australian Curriculum, strategies for teaching them effectively, and ready-to-use resources from Australian teachers.

Australian primary schools teach the following structure for information reports. (For detailed examples, see the Victorian Department of Education's information report guide.) The complexity increases with year level, but the fundamental structure stays the same.

Title

A clear, factual title that identifies the topic. For example: "The Platypus", "Natural Disasters in Australia", "How the Digestive System Works."

Classification (General Opening Statement)

The opening paragraph introduces and classifies the topic. It tells the reader what the subject is and gives a general overview. For example: "The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a semi-aquatic mammal native to eastern Australia. It is one of only five species of monotremes — mammals that lay eggs."

Young students might write: "Kangaroos are Australian animals. They are marsupials." Older students write more detailed classifications that locate the topic within a broader category.

Description (Body Paragraphs)

The body of the report describes different aspects of the topic, with each paragraph covering one subtopic. Common subtopics include:

• Appearance — what it looks like (size, colour, features)
• Habitat — where it lives
• Diet — what it eats
• Behaviour — what it does, how it moves
• Life cycle — how it grows and reproduces
• Interesting facts — unusual or notable information

For non-animal topics, subtopics might include causes, effects, types, uses, history, or how something works.

Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence that introduces the subtopic, followed by supporting details and facts.

Conclusion (Optional)

A brief summary or closing statement. Some information reports end with an interesting fact or a statement about the topic's significance. For example: "The platypus is classified as near-threatened due to habitat loss, making conservation efforts essential for its survival."

Information Report Language Features

Students learn to use specific language conventions in information reports:

• Present tense — "Kangaroos live in Australia" (not "Kangaroos lived")
• Third person — "The platypus has..." (not "I think the platypus has...")
• Technical vocabulary — subject-specific terms ("marsupial", "herbivore", "evaporation")
• Factual adjectives — precise descriptions ("The eastern grey kangaroo grows up to 1.3 metres tall")
• Generalised participants — writing about the group, not an individual ("Echidnas are..." not "This echidna is...")
• Topic sentences — clear opening sentences for each paragraph
• Cause and effect language — "because", "as a result", "this causes", "due to"

The Australian Curriculum v9 for English includes informational writing within the Literacy strand under "Creating texts." Students create informative texts with increasing sophistication across primary school. Information reports also appear prominently in Science and HASS where students research and present factual information.

Foundation & Year 1

Students create simple information texts using labels, captions, lists, and one or two sentences. Topics are usually familiar — pets, family, weather, or Australian animals they've learned about in class. The focus is on communicating facts clearly.

Effective activities at this level include:

• Labelling diagrams of animals, plants, or objects
• Creating simple "All About" books with pictures and sentences
• Shared writing where the class constructs a report together
• Sorting facts and opinions about a familiar topic

Year 2 & Year 3

Students write structured information reports with a classification, two or three body paragraphs organised by subtopic, and a simple conclusion. They begin using topic sentences and including facts gathered from research (books, videos, teacher-provided sources).

Effective activities at this level include:

• Research projects on Australian animals, habitats, or communities
• Using graphic organisers to plan reports by subtopic
• Guided note-taking from non-fiction texts
• Writing reports linked to Science or HASS units

Year 4 & Year 5

Students write detailed information reports with well-organised paragraphs, technical vocabulary, and information drawn from multiple sources. They learn to paraphrase (put information in their own words) rather than copying, and begin including diagrams, maps, or tables to support their text.

Effective activities at this level include:

• Cross-curricular reports linked to Science investigations or HASS inquiry units
• Teaching paraphrasing and note-taking skills explicitly
• Comparing information from different sources for accuracy
• Including visual elements (diagrams, maps, tables) with captions

Year 6

Year 6 students write extended information reports that demonstrate control over text structure, technical language, and the integration of information from multiple sources. They evaluate the reliability of sources, reference where their information came from, and present complex information in a clear, logical structure.

Effective activities at this level include:

• Independent research projects with multiple sources
• Evaluating source reliability and identifying bias
• Incorporating citations or references in simplified form
• Writing for authentic audiences (school website, class wiki, information displays)

1. Start with What Students Know

The best first information report topic is something students are already knowledgeable about. If students know about dogs, soccer, or Minecraft, they can focus on learning the structure without also having to research the content. Once they understand the text type, introduce research-based topics.

2. Use Mentor Texts

Read and deconstruct published information texts together. Non-fiction picture books, National Geographic Kids articles, and even Wikipedia entries can serve as mentor texts. Identify the structure, language features, and how information is organised. Ask: "Where is the classification? What subtopics has the author used? What technical vocabulary can you find?"

3. Teach the Difference Between Facts and Opinions

Before students write information reports, they need to understand the difference between factual statements and personal opinions:

• Fact: "Kangaroos are marsupials found in Australia."
• Opinion: "Kangaroos are the best animals in Australia."

This is especially important because students often slip into persuasive language when writing about topics they care about.

4. Scaffold with Graphic Organisers

Give students a planning template that mirrors the report structure:

• Title: What is your topic?
• Classification: What is it? What group does it belong to?
• Subtopic 1: (e.g., Appearance) — 3 facts
• Subtopic 2: (e.g., Habitat) — 3 facts
• Subtopic 3: (e.g., Diet) — 3 facts
• Conclusion: Interesting fact or summary

This gives students a clear framework to organise their research before they start writing paragraphs.

5. Connect to Other Subjects

Information reports are the perfect cross-curricular text type:

• Science: Reports on animals, plants, materials, energy, Earth and space
• HASS: Reports on communities, historical events, geographical features, Australian landmarks
• Health: Reports on body systems, nutrition, hygiene

Writing information reports in context (not just in English lessons) helps students see the real-world purpose of this text type.

6. Teach Paraphrasing Explicitly

Copying from sources is one of the biggest issues with student information reports. Teach a simple paraphrasing process:

1. Read the original text
2. Close the book or turn away from the screen
3. Write what you remember in your own words
4. Check the original to make sure your facts are accurate

Foundation – Year 2

• My favourite Australian animal
• All about [pet type]
• How plants grow
• Weather and seasons in Australia
• Our local community
• Mini-beasts (insects and spiders)

Year 3 & Year 4

• An endangered Australian animal
• Natural disasters (bushfires, floods, cyclones)
• The Great Barrier Reef
• How the water cycle works
• An Australian state or territory
• Indigenous Australians and Country
• A body system (digestive, skeletal, muscular)

Year 5 & Year 6

• Space exploration and the solar system
• Renewable energy sources in Australia
• A significant event in Australian history
• How the human body fights disease
• Climate change and its effects on Australia
• An Australian biome (rainforest, desert, wetlands)
• A country studied in HASS (geography comparison)
• How a technology works (electricity, the internet, satellites)

For animal report resources, see our Australian Animals page.