Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Back to Study HubBrowse Year 3 English Guides

Year 3 - English

Writing the first paragraph of a diary entry based on 'The Journey'

'The Journey': diary writing

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils write a diary entry based on the picture book 'The Journey' by Francesca Sanna. Pupils use the book as a starting point from which they write a diary entry, focusing on using the first person perspective consistently and practising the skill of varying tense accurately.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to write the first paragraph of a diary entry.

Key Notes

  • Diary entries use informal language that reflect the character who is writing.
  • Writers switch between the present tense and past tense in diary entries.
  • First person perspective is the point of view where the writer is the 'I' character.
  • Fronted adverbials of time recount the chronology of events.
  • Notes from a plan are used to help form full sentences.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • tense: tells the reader when something happens
  • first person: the 'I/we' perspective
  • informal language: language and vocabulary that is used for more casual and relaxed purposes
  • 'show-not-tell': a writing technique for showing a character's feelings with description of their actions, body language and facial expressions

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may shift into writing from the third person perspective.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Diary entries use informal language that reflect the character who is writing. Writers switch between the present tense and past tense in diary entries.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'tense'

tells the reader when something happens.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may shift into writing from the third person perspective. Correction: Pause at regular intervals during the writing process and have pupils read back and check for consistent use of the first person.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 3 English guide library.