Writing Effective Leaflets

Overview

This 60-minute lesson guides Year 6 students through understanding, planning, and writing an engaging leaflet. It aligns with the National Curriculum for England: English Programmes of Study (Years 5 and 6), focusing on writing for a purpose and audience, using cohesive devices, and organising paragraphs thematically.

---

National Curriculum Links

Writing - Composition (Years 5 & 6):

• Plan, draft, and write for a range of purposes and audiences
• Organise paragraphs around a theme
• Use a wide range of devices to build cohesion within and across paragraphs
• Assess effectiveness of own and others’ writing and suggest improvements

Spoken Language (Years 5 & 6):

• Participate in discussions, presentations, and performances

---

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, pupils will:

1. Identify the purpose and key features of a leaflet.
2. Understand how to organise content logically with headings, subheadings, and bullet points.
3. Use persuasive language and engaging techniques appropriate for a leaflet.
4. Plan and produce a short leaflet draft on a given theme.

---

Resources

• Examples of leaflets (print or projected)
• Whiteboard/flipchart and markers
• Leaflet planning template (headings for title, introduction, details, contact info)
• Writing paper and pens
• Colour pencils or markers for decoration
• Peer assessment checklist

---

Lesson Structure

1. Introduction & Engagement (10 minutes)

• Hook: Show contrasting examples of communication materials: a leaflet and a dense paragraph of text. Ask pupils which is easier to read and why.
• Discussion: Introduce the purpose of leaflets (to inform, persuade, advertise). Connect to real-life examples pupils may have seen (e.g., holiday parks, zoo, local events).

National Curriculum Focus: Spoken Language – express ideas clearly and participate in discussions.

---

2. Exploring Leaflet Features (10 minutes)

• Activity: Distribute leaflet examples or display digitally.
• In small groups, pupils identify key features: title/headline, introduction, bullet points, persuasive language, images (noting purpose), contact info or call to action.
• Groups share findings; teacher records features on the board.

National Curriculum Focus: Reading – retrieving information; Writing – understanding text structure.

---

3. Planning a Leaflet (10 minutes)

• Teacher Model: Use a flipchart to plan a leaflet on a familiar theme (e.g., “Visit Our School Library”). Highlight:
  • Catchy title
  • Brief introduction paragraph (purpose)
  • Key information using bullet points or short sections
  • Persuasive language and interesting facts
  • Call to action (visit, contact, join)
• Pupil Activity: Using the leaflet planning template, pupils choose their own topic (e.g., promoting a local attraction, a charity event, or a favourite book) and begin to plan content in sections.

National Curriculum Focus: Writing – planning, organising ideas, using thematic paragraphs.

---

4. Writing the Leaflet Draft (20 minutes)

• Pupils write their first draft using their plan.
• Encourage use of persuasive phrases, varied sentence starters, and bullet points.
• Support differentiation by offering sentence starters or word banks to those who need it.
• Teacher circulates, giving feedback focused on structure, clarity, and engagement.

National Curriculum Focus: Writing – drafting and composing for a specific purpose and audience.

---

5. Peer Review & Improvement (7 minutes)

• Pupils exchange drafts with a partner for peer assessment using a simple checklist:
  • Is the leaflet easy to read?
  • Does it have a catchy title and introduction?
  • Are important points clearly organised?
  • Is the language persuasive and engaging?
• Pupils suggest one improvement to each other.

National Curriculum Focus: Writing – evaluating and editing.

---

6. Plenary & Reflection (3 minutes)

• Invite a few pupils to share their leaflet titles and one persuasive sentence.
• Recap key features of a good leaflet.
• Prompt pupils to think about how they might improve their leaflet further for homework or future lessons.

---

Assessment Opportunities

• Formative: Observation during activities and discussions, checking understanding of leaflet features.
• Written: Evaluate pupils’ leaflet drafts for clear structure, appropriate language, and purpose.
• Peer assessment: Use of checklist encourages reflection and applying success criteria.

---

Extension Ideas

• Add visuals or layout design to make leaflets eye-catching using ICT (e.g., Publisher or Word).
• Create leaflets collaboratively in small groups on different topics, then display around the classroom for a “leaflet gallery.”
• Introduce persuasive devices (rhetorical questions, emotive language) in more detail for advanced learners.

---

This lesson plan not only meets key elements of the Year 6 English curriculum but also uses interactive, scaffolded steps to build confidence and skill in writing purposeful leaflets, supporting both creativity and technical accuracy.