What the lesson is about

Pupils first learn of instructions in list formats, such as personal reminders and simple planning notes, and soon move on to writing their own instructions for everyday activities. Instructional writing uses the second person, imperative mood (or “bossy verbs”) and often employs time connectives, such as “first”, “next” and “finally”. The correct order of instructions is vital, so sequencing activities are widely used.

How to use it

Our contributors have uploaded detailed planning and sets of instructions for a huge amount of subjects, from making a jam sandwich to putting up a tent.

Planning resources include a two-week unit, contributed by missnugent, looking at moving pictures, toys and pushes and pulls, with links to design and technology, history and science, and a three-day unit on introducing and reiterating instructions, uploaded by missal. The collection includes an introduction to instructional writing (tallonr), a writing frame, complete with success criteria and guidelines (BEG78) and a flow chart for instruction writing (kyleb99).

Examples of lessons on instructional writing include cleaning your teeth, planting a bulb and making a sandwich.

The collection includes interactive resources from TESiboard, covering three types of activity: planning templates, where pupils build a list of equipment and put their instructions in sequence; presentations, for pupils to present instructions as a report; and sequencers, so pupils can drag instructions into order on a timeline. All these resources come with sound, and topics include growing vegetables, making cakes, planning a party, getting ready for school and making a clay pot.

Where to find it

www.tes.co.ukinstruction.