Planning the diary entries of an imagined Windrush passenger
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can plan the structure and content of an imagined Windrush passenger's diary entries before and after arriving in London.
Key learning points
- Writing is most successful when it is planned. We can plan to describe events and feelings for a diary entry.
- A diary entry is most often written retrospectively with no other intended reader than the writer themselves.
- A Windrush passenger's diary could contain entries from on the ship and after arriving in the UK.
- First person is used to write a diary entry and entries can use both past and present tense.
- We can plan to include a range of vocabulary to describe emotions.
Keywords
Past tense - tells the reader that action happened before now
Present tense - tells the reader that action is happening now
Events - things that happen to a person or character
Feelings - emotional reactions or ideas in response to events
Common misconception
Pupils may believe a diary entry can only use the past tense.
The diarist will also explain what they are doing and feeling in the present moment.
Teacher tip
Managing the shifts in past and present tense can be a challenge; you may wish to provide an example of a diary entry that does this; in 'The Diary of Anne Frank', for example, Anne often describes her present feelings before going back to describe the events that led to them.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.For whom is a diary entry usually written?
Q2.Which is the best definition of 'empathising'?
Q3.Which word has a similar meaning to 'hopeful'?
Q4.Which words below most often have negative meanings?
Q5.When in the story might Celia feel most tenacious?
Q6.In the story, what might Celia be 'yearning' for at the beginning?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false: a diary can only be written using the past tense.
Q2.In which tense is this sentence written? 'I couldn't believe that it was really happening!'
Q3.In which tense is this sentence written? 'I'm writing this sitting on a bunk bed deep underground.'
Q4.Which of these sentences give events, rather than thoughts and feelings?
Q5.Which feeling best completes this action? 'As we sped through London, ...'
Q6.Which of the following words describe Celia well?
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Planning the diary entries of an imagined Windrush passenger, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Planning the diary entries of an imagined Windrush passenger, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the The Empire Windrush: diary writing unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.