I need to have interactive activities in the following lesson - Lead (in a news article) Simplified: The first paragraph of a news story that quickly tells the most important facts and grabs the reader’s attention.

Informed opinion Simplified: An idea or belief someone has after learning and understanding the facts about a topic.

Objective Simplified: A point of view based only on facts, not feelings or personal opinions.

Subjective Simplified: A point of view based on personal feelings, thoughts, or experiences.

Jargon Simplified: Special words or phrases used by people in a specific job or activity that might be hard for others to understand. Sports Writing

Sports writing is a form of non-fiction that covers sports, athletes or other sports-related issues. A journalist who reports on sports is called a sportswriter. Elements of sports writing

Sports writing typically covers the following basic information:

Type of sport Names of the individuals or teams involved When and where the game was played Highlights of the game Score or final outcome Evaluation of an individual or team's performance. To write a good sports story, remember that sports revolve around the drama of competition and our story should reflect this. Also, remember that a professional sports writer is someone who is an expert, or at least very knowledgeable, about one or other facets of the sporting world. Not only do they need to recount the events of the match, but they also add their own informed opinion about the performance of individual players and predictions about the future of an individual or team. Spotlighting a single person is a clever way of giving the story a human side that readers can relate to. Purpose of a sports story

Every article should have a purpose so that it targets the correct audience and attracts the proper readership.

The main purpose is to inform and entertain the reader. A sports report should deliver the story in a way that gives all the information and engages the audience. The aim is to inform the reader about the sporting event, and to provide background information and details to contextualise the event. It should offer an informed opinion of the match based on the writer's knowledge of the sport and players. For example: The Olympic Games always attracts a lot of attention worldwide as most countries send a team to the Games. The opening ceremony is usually spectacular and the media brings the games to millions of readers and viewers. Comparing sports stories and news stories

Sports News Reports the facts Reports the facts A typical article includes the body of the story, an engaging lead and presents the predominant facts in order of their importance. A typical article includes the body of the story, an engaging lead and presents the predominant facts in order of their importance. Lead gives a summary of events. Lead gives a summary of events. Includes the most interest-compelling facts Includes the most interest-compelling facts Informal tone Formal tone Generally subjective (contains opinion) Objective (no opinion) Uses sports jargon Usually avoids jargon The writing has a faster pace and the language choice is varied and colourful. Plain, factual language with consistent pacing. 2. Different Types of Sports Stories

Straight-lead story

A straight-lead story is the most common in sports journalism. It is an article in which the lead (the first paragraph of the article) summarises the main points - who won, who lost, the score and what the star player did. Feature game story

A feature game story is common for professional sports. Sports fans usually already know the outcome of professional games so they want stories that offer a different angle on what happened and why. Profiles

The world of sports is filled with colourful characters, so it's no surprise that personality profiles are common in sportswriting. Whether it's a charismatic coach or a young athlete on the rise, some of the best profiles anywhere are found in sports sections. Writing a Lead Story

3.1 Suggested structure

STRUCTURE Headline

This should catch the reader’s attention (headlines often use alliteration or word-play) and suit the tone of your article (humorous, serious, factual etc.).

Paragraph 1 (Lead)

Introduce the event by giving the key information: what, when, who, where. Paragraph 2 Why, how - give more detail on exactly how the event happened and what the cause was. Paragraph 3 Include more background details on what happened before the event in order to give your reader a better idea of what led to it. Paragraph 4 Place an interview or quotes giving someone’s opinion on the event; this could be someone directly related to the story or some sort of respected or expert opinion. Paragraph 5 Look to the future; what is the impact of this event? What are you predictions for what might happen next?

Overview

This 60-minute lesson engages Year 9 students (aged 13-14) in developing skills to write captivating leads for sports news articles, aligned with the National Curriculum for England (English programmes of study: Key Stage 3). Students will explore the difference between objective and subjective writing, learn key sports writing terminology, and craft their own introductory paragraphs for sports stories.

National Curriculum Links

Reading

Develop an understanding of the layers of meaning in texts (National Curriculum KS3 English: Reading, comprehension).
Analyse language used to create impact on the reader (including jargon and tone).

Writing

Plan, draft, and write to suit purpose and audience, selecting appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures (National Curriculum KS3 Writing).
Use a range of devices to build coherence within and between paragraphs (e.g., linking ideas logically).

Spoken Language

Participate in discussions, presentations, and debates clearly and effectively.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Define the purpose and structure of a lead in a sports news article.
Distinguish between objective and subjective viewpoints, plus understand ‘informed opinion’ and ‘jargon.’
Identify and use the key elements of sports writing (who, what, when, where, why, how).
Write a concise, engaging lead paragraph for a sports news story using correct terminology and tone suitable for their audience.

Resources

Whiteboard/Smartboard
Copies of a simplified sports news article with highlighted lead paragraph (dyslexia-friendly fonts such as OpenDyslexic; coloured overlays optionally used).
Word bank with definitions of jargon, subjective/objective, informed opinion.
Writing templates for structuring sports leads.
Timer for timed writing activities.
Projector for displaying examples and instructions.

Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (10 minutes)

Interactive Quiz: True or False

Slide show or printed cards with statements about writing leads, objectivity, and sports jargon.
Students answer by showing thumbs up/down or using cards.
Examples:
- “A lead always includes the score.” (True)
- “Sports jargon should always be avoided.” (False)
- “Subjective writing is unbiased.” (False)
Quick class discussion after each to clarify misconceptions.

Differentiation: Questions increase in complexity; paired support for students who need it.

2. Mini-Lesson/Teacher Input (15 minutes)

Explaining the Lead and Key Terms

Define ‘lead’ as the first paragraph that summarises the most important facts and grabs attention. Write simplified definition on board.
Explain ‘objective’ vs ‘subjective’, ‘informed opinion’, and ‘jargon’ using simplified definitions and examples. Use sports-related contexts.
Display a real sports lead (dyslexia-friendly font) and highlight: what, when, who, where, key facts.
Discuss valid use of jargon: when it adds excitement vs when it confuses (linked to audience).
Compare a sports lead (usually subjective, colourful language) and standard news lead (objective, formal tone).

Differentiation: Visual aids and verbal explanations; colour-coded notes to support memory retention.

3. Guided Practice (15 minutes)

Group Activity: Identify and Annotate

In groups of 3-4, students read a short sports news lead paragraph.
Annotate text: highlight key facts (who, what, where, when), jargon, and subjective/informed opinion parts.
Each group shares one annotation with the class.
Teacher consolidates, emphasising the drama angle and human interest.

Extension: Groups can suggest improved headlines using word-play or alliteration.

4. Independent Application (15 minutes)

Task: Writing a Lead

Students use a writing template and a brief match scenario (fictional local football game) to write their own lead paragraph. Instructions emphasise including who, what, when, where plus one compelling detail to hook readers.
Encourage inclusion of suitable jargon and a hint of informed opinion without losing clarity.
Time limit of 12 minutes to simulate journalistic speed and focus.

Differentiation:

Provide sentence starters and word banks for those who need scaffolding.
Challenge advanced writers to add a ‘quote’ or ‘prediction’ sentence at the end.

5. Peer Review and Plenary (10 minutes)

Interactive Peer Feedback

Students swap leads with a partner (mixed ability pairing).
Use a simple checklist: Does the lead give key facts? Is the language interesting and suitable? Is jargon explained or clear?
Partners give one positive comment and one suggestion for improvement.

Whole Class Discussion

Recap what makes a good sports lead.
Ask volunteers to read their leads aloud.
Highlight examples of effective use of jargon, objective vs subjective tone, and engaging hooks.

Differentiation Strategies

Use dyslexia-friendly reading formats—OpenDyslexic font, coloured paper/background, and coloured overlays.
Clear, simple language and step-by-step instructions.
Visual prompts and word banks to support writing.
Mixed-ability groupings to encourage peer support.
Sentence starters and writing templates for less confident writers.
Extension tasks for higher-ability students to add quotes or predictions and consider headline creativity.

Assessment and Feedback

Formative assessment through observation during group discussions and annotations.
Written leads collected and reviewed for inclusion of key facts, clarity, and tone.
Peer feedback supports reflective practice and development.
Teacher provides individual or group feedback highlighting effective jargon use and balanced opinion.

Extension Activities

Create a profile paragraph on a sports personality focusing on subjective and informed opinions.
Compare a sports lead with a traditional news lead on the same event and analyse differences in tone and purpose.
Research real sports articles and identify different types of sports stories: straight-lead, feature, profile.

End of Lesson Plan

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Writing Engaging Leads

Teaching Instructions