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      Publishing a diary entry based on 'The Journey'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can publish a diary entry based on ‘The Journey’.

      Key learning points

      1. Children often use drawings in their diaries as a way of telling stories.
      2. A doodle is a sketch completed absent-mindedly.
      3. Neat, joined handwriting is important when publishing a diary entry.
      4. A published diary entry should be visually and linguistically appealing to the reader.

      Keywords

      • Layout - refers to the way information is organised on the page

      • Drawing - a picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen or colouring pencil

      • Doodle - a sketch completed absent-mindedly

      Common misconception

      Pupils think they need to use new ideas when publishing their diary entry.

      Pupils should use the sections they have written in previous lessons that have been planned, drafted and edited.

      Teacher tip

      Model how to draw the key moment from 'The Journey' under a visualiser or on an interactive whiteboard. You could also support pupils' drawing process by showing them illustrations from the book.

      Equipment

      You will need a copy of the 2016 Flying Eye Books edition of ‘The Journey’ by Francesa Sanna for this lesson.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

      Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

      Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

      Supervision

      Adult supervision recommended

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the main purpose of a diary entry?

      to give factual information
      Correct answer: to recount personal events
      to thank someone
      Correct answer: to express personal feelings

      Q2.
      Put the following in the order they appear in a diary entry.

      1 - date
      2 - greeting
      3 - paragraph 1
      4 - paragraph 2
      5 - sign-off

      Q3.
      Select three key moments from 'The Journey'.

      Correct answer: the time they spent on a boat
      Correct answer: the moment they were turned away by border police
      the moment they got on a plane
      the moment they played football
      Correct answer: the moment they packed all their belongings and left home

      Q4.
      Select the correct spelling.

      riting
      writting
      Correct answer: writing
      wrighting

      Q5.
      What is the definition of a drawing?

      a photograph
      Correct answer: a picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen or colouring pencil
      an oil painting
      a sculpture

      Q6.
      In which section of a diary entry would you find this sentence? 'Then, we were turned away by the border police.'

      greeting
      Correct answer: paragraph recounting the events
      paragraph explaining current feelings
      sign-off

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      It is important to use neat, joined handwriting when publishing.

      Correct answer: True
      False

      Q2.
      Put the following in the order that they appear in a diary entry.

      1 - date
      2 - greeting: 'Dear Diary,'
      3 - paragraphs to organise recount and thoughts
      4 - sign-off

      Q3.
      'A doodle is a detailed, carefully-drawn picture.'

      True
      Correct answer: False

      Q4.
      Select the correct spelling.

      sumwhere
      Correct answer: somewhere
      somwhere
      somewere

      Q5.
      Which of the following would be found in a diary entry?

      Correct answer: personal thoughts and feelings
      videos
      Correct answer: drawings
      photographs
      Correct answer: doodles

      Q6.
      Which sentence would be found in a diary entry?

      Correct answer: It was a very long journey.
      Correct answer: I cannot believe how FAR we travelled! I don't want to walk for at LEAST a week!
      They travelled for days and days.
      I think they travelled for a long time.

      To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Publishing a diary entry based on 'The Journey', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...