Help pupils learn how to write a historical recount with this comprehensive KS2 resource pack. It includes two detailed WAGOLL model texts recounting major historical events: the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb and the Anglo-Saxon Battle of Edington.
Both texts provide clear examples of structure, style and vocabulary to inspire pupils’ own writing. Pupils can read and annotate the texts, then use them to plan and write their own historical recounts based on a topic they are studying in history or an event that interests them.
What’s included
- Model Text 1 – The Discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb: This recount details Howard Carter’s 1922 discovery of the young pharaoh’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, Egypt. It describes the excavation process, the treasures uncovered and the significance of the find. Pupils can identify key features such as chronological order, past tense, conjunctions and a formal tone.
- Model Text 2 – The Battle of Edington: This recount explains how Alfred the Great led his forces to victory over the Danes in 878 AD. It covers the events leading up to the battle, the strategies used and the resulting treaty that secured Wessex. Pupils can see how to include detailed descriptions, maintain third-person narration and organise events clearly.
- Historical Recount Writing Sheets: Separate PDFs for LKS2 and UKS2 include success criteria and grammar support. LKS2 sheets focus on adverbs and subordinating conjunctions, while UKS2 sheets cover the past perfect and past perfect progressive tense and the use of semi-colons.
- Recount Writing Plan: This worksheet helps pupils structure their own recounts, including a timeline to organise events chronologically.
- Themed Writing Paper: Ready-to-use paper for pupils to present their work neatly.
National curriculum links
Year 3/4: Teach pupils to plan writing by analysing similar texts to understand structure, vocabulary, and grammar. Extend sentence variety using conjunctions such as when, if, because, although.
Year 5/6: Pupils identify the audience and purpose, select the appropriate form and use model texts to guide their own writing. Teach them to use past perfect forms to show time relationships and semi-colons to link independent clauses.
This pack equips teachers to actively guide pupils through the writing process, combining historical knowledge with clear writing techniques, while making the learning engaging and practical.