Reporting Live from 1666: The Great Fire of London News Report

This activity will immerse Year 4 pupils in the historical context of the Great Fire of London, encouraging them to synthesise historical facts and use their English writing skills to create a compelling news report. Pupils will adopt the role of a 17th-century reporter, focusing on key events, causes, and consequences of the fire. This aligns with the National Curriculum for English (Year 4) for writing non-chronological reports, using descriptive vocabulary, and organising ideas into paragraphs. It also supports historical understanding of a significant event.

Step 1: Recap and Immerse (15 minutes)

• Begin by recapping key facts about the Great Fire of London (e.g., date, location, key figures like Samuel Pepys, causes, spread, consequences). Use a visual aid like a timeline or a map of 17th-century London.
• Explain to pupils that they are going to become 'time-travelling reporters' sent back to 1666 to report on the unfolding disaster. Discuss what makes a good news report (headline, introduction, factual details, quotes, concluding statement).

Step 2: Gathering Information (20 minutes)

• Provide pupils with a selection of pre-prepared 'information cards' or a short, accessible text about the Great Fire. These should include key details such as:
  • Who: Thomas Farriner, Samuel Pepys, King Charles II, citizens of London.
  • What: Fire started, spread rapidly, destroyed homes, St Paul's Cathedral, etc.
  • Where: Pudding Lane, London Bridge, city walls.
  • When: 2nd-5th September 1666.
  • Why: Dry weather, wooden houses, narrow streets, strong wind, lack of fire-fighting equipment.
  • How: Fire hooks, water buckets, gunpowder to create fire breaks.
• In pairs or small groups, pupils should extract key facts and vocabulary, noting them down on a 'reporter's notebook' template.

Step 3: Planning the Report (15 minutes)

• Guide pupils to plan their news report using a simple template. This could include sections for:
  • Headline: Catchy and informative.
  • Dateline: e.g., 'London, 3rd September 1666 –'
  • Introduction: Briefly state the main event (who, what, when, where).
  • Body Paragraph 1: Details about the start and spread of the fire.
  • Body Paragraph 2: Impact on the city and its people, attempts to fight the fire.
  • Quote: A made-up quote from an eyewitness (e.g., 'It was a terrifying sight,' said one baker).
  • Conclusion: What might happen next, or a summary of the devastation.
• Emphasise using descriptive adjectives and adverbs (e.g., 'raging inferno', 'swiftly consumed', 'desperate citizens').

Step 4: Drafting the News Report (30 minutes)

• Pupils write their news reports, referring to their notes and planning sheet. Encourage them to write in paragraphs and to use varied sentence starters.
• Circulate, offering support and prompting pupils to elaborate on details or improve their vocabulary.

Step 5: Sharing and Peer Review (10 minutes, optional extension)

• Invite pupils to share their headlines or a paragraph from their report with a partner or the class. This can be done as a 'news broadcast' where they read their report aloud. This promotes active listening and provides an audience for their writing.

• Interactive whiteboard or display for recap and instructions.
• Pre-prepared 'information cards' or an accessible text about the Great Fire of London (differentiated if possible).
• 'Reporter's Notebook' template for fact-finding.
• News report planning template.
• News report writing frame/template (optional, for support).
• Pens, pencils, and paper.
• Pictures or maps of 17th-century London to aid visualisation.