Writing a Diary

This week, we are going to pretend that we are explorers and have arrived in Sydney, Australia. We are going to plan and write 3 diary entries that detail what we see, hear and experience on our journey.

Step 1:

First, we need to read some different types of diary entries and identify the features of them.

Have a look at the resources and highlight features that you find. Is the diary written in first or third person? Is it past or present tense? What sort of language has the author used? Is there something you can tell me about the structure and lay out of the text?

Jot down a list of the features that you find so that you can use it as a success criteria for your own writing.

Step 2:

You have already done lots of research into the different areas of Australia. However, now that you are exploring, you need to find out about different landmarks that you are visiting - describe what they look like - how they feel, what you hear, smell, taste. Use ambitious vocabulary to describe your senses. How are you travelling from place to place? What are your emotions as you arrive at different destinations?

Use the internet's travel pages like trip advisor to find out about the landmarks that you are going to see and explore. Find images and describe them.

Step 3:

Plan your diary entry on the planning sheet in the resources section - remember to include all of the wonderful vocabulary that you have used in step 2.

Think about connections that show the passing of time firstly, because, finally, meanwhile and use them in your plans.

Step 4:

Draft your diary entries - use your success criteria that you created from the features of the diaries in step 1 to help you set out and structure your text.

Your diary entries do not have to go from day 1, day 2, day3 etc. you can start with one from the beginning of your trip, one from the middle and one for the end.

Step 5:

Edit and check your work. Redraft neatly and check that all of your sentences make sense and are punctuated accurately.

Send your work to the KS2 staff via email.