Dear Diary
Interactive exercises to consolidate your students’ learning.
Writing a diary entry in the past simple, seen through Isla's snow day: no school bus, a snowman with Dad's old hat, a snowball fight and hot chocolate under a blanket. Pupils answer questions on the diary, read the useful phrases, write four irregular verbs in the past simple, then write about a special day from a card or their own and tick a checklist; model entry and answer key included.
Documents to download (2)
- Worksheet In your teacher account
- Worksheet (black and white) In your teacher account
Teaching guide
Objective & content
This writing sheet teaches pupils to write a diary entry about a special day in the past simple (Dear Diary, What a day! This morning, I woke up..., First, we built..., Then we had..., In the afternoon..., It was the best day of..., I hope...). Pupils read Isla's diary, take its phrases and write their own entry. By the end, they can write an entry of 80 to 100 words about a day in the past, in order and with their feelings.
Pedagogical guide
Page 1 has Isla's diary for a Monday in January, with a photo of a snowman and one of a snowball fight. It snowed all night, so there was no school bus. Isla and her brother Finn built a snowman with Dad's old hat and a carrot nose, had a snowball fight with the children next door (Finn hit her in the face, and her ears were very cold), then drank hot chocolate and watched a film under a blanket. She hopes it snows again tomorrow. Pupils answer six questions with three options each, then read the useful phrases, set out in the order of a diary entry (start, morning, past simple, order, feelings, end). Page 2 starts with four irregular verbs to write in the past simple. Then pupils write about a special day from a card (a school trip to the zoo, a first football match, a theme park, the day the power went off, each with four key words) or a day of their own, and tick the checklist. The answer key gives a model entry.
Suggested procedure
- (5 min) Ask "What was your best day this year?" and collect a few answers.
- (10 min) Read Isla's diary aloud; pupils answer the questions.
- (5 min) Read the useful phrases with the class; pupils underline the past simple verbs in the diary.
- (5 min) Page 2: pupils write the verbs in the past simple.
- (20 min) Pupils choose a day, write their entry and tick the checklist.
- (5 min) Pupils read their entry to a partner, who asks one question in the past.
Adaptations
[S] Pupils use a card and write one sentence for each key word.
[A] Pupils add what someone said or a funny moment.
Materials & prerequisites
One copy of pages 1 and 2 per pupil. Page 3 is the answer key, the model entry and the teacher notes: keep it. Pupils need the past simple of regular and common irregular verbs and its negative. To take it further, pupils keep a diary in English for a week.
Possible adaptations
- Lower levels: Offer segmented listening and additional visual aids.
- Advanced levels: Encourage an oral summary and a debate in English on the theme.
- Large groups: Organise group work with differentiated roles.
🔒 Restricted content
This resource requires a subscription to be viewed.
Unlock the resourceIncluded in the subscription
