Writing the final paragraph of a diary entry based on 'Into the Forest' | English

Starter quiz

Put the following events in the correct order to show the chronology of the boy’s final recount.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  I ran towards Grandma’s house as quickly as I could.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  I became really scared because it felt like I was being followed.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  I arrived and it didn’t sound like Grandma inside. I panicked!
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  I went inside and I found Grandma AND Dad! I told them everything.
Select the correct emotion to complete the following sentence: 'The boy's fear turns to __________ when he is reunited with his grandma and his dad.'
- horror
- anxiety
- relief ✓
- upset
Which of the following linguistic features will you use when continuing the recount in the final paragraph?
- first person perspective ✓
- past tense ✓
- present tense
- informal language ✓
- formal language
Match each sentence type to the piece of punctuation that demarcates it at the end.
- statement
  
  ⇔
  
  . ✓
- exclamation
  
  ⇔
  
  ! ✓
- question
  
  ⇔
  
  ? ✓
When will you switch into the present tense in your diary entry?
- when I have finished recounting the day ✓
- when I am describing past events
- when I am conveying my current feelings ✓
Match each sentence type to the correct definition.
- simple sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  a sentence about one idea that makes complete sense ✓
- compound sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  a sentence formed of two main clauses and a joining word ✓
- adverbial complex sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  a sentence formed of a main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause ✓

Exit quiz

Which of the below are examples of the kind of informal language you would use when writing your diary entry?
- Her voice sounded SO strange! ✓
- I was really freaked out. ✓
- I was slightly unnerved by the circumstances.
- I didn't think it was Grandma! ✓
- I did not think it sounded like my grandmother.
Match each sentence type to the correct example.
- simple sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  My heart pounded in my chest. ✓
- compound sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  I was super freaked out, but I went inside anyway. ✓
- adverbial complex sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  When I arrived, the voice inside didn’t sound like Grandma! ✓
What tense do you shift to at the end of a diary entry?
- past
- present ✓
- future
True or false? I cannot use different tenses in the same sentence.
- True
- False ✓
What is a rhetorical question?
- a question that the reader answers
- a question that does not expect an answer ✓
- a question that makes people laugh
When we write, we always try to do which of these things?
- Plan and say each sentence before we write it. ✓
- Vary our sentence types. ✓
- Use only simple sentences.
- Write as much as possible and as quickly as we can.
- Use punctuation where we know the rules. ✓

Worksheet

Loading worksheet ...

Presentation

Loading presentation ...

Lesson Details

Key learning points

This paragraph recounts the final part of the boy’s journey and his reunion with his dad in the past tense.
The boy’s emotions heighten and he experiences intense fear before experiencing great relief.
A key linguistic feature in the final paragraph of a diary entry is the shift from past to present tense.
Present tense writing at the end of a diary entry conveys current reflections and feelings.
Rhetorical questions can be used to convey internal questions and emotions in a diary entry.

Common misconception

Children might struggle to identify how to transition into the present tense smoothly in a way that supports text flow.

Highlight the use of the compound sentence using 'but' to contrast between past and present emotions. Encourage children to orally rehearse a similar sentence as their transition point to the present tense.

Keywords

Emotions - strong feelings that result from a person’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others
Present tense - refers to a verb form that indicates an action or state happening in the current moment
Rhetorical question - a question asked that does not expect an answer