Writing the final paragraph of a diary entry based on 'Into the Forest'
I can write the final paragraph of a diary entry based on ‘Into the Forest’.
Writing the final paragraph of a diary entry based on 'Into the Forest'
I can write the final paragraph of a diary entry based on ‘Into the Forest’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
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.
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
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.
To help you plan your year 4 english lesson on: Writing the final paragraph of a diary entry based on 'Into the Forest', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 4 english lesson on: Writing the final paragraph of a diary entry based on 'Into the Forest', 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 'Into the Forest': diary writing unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2022 Puffin Books edition of ‘Into the Forest’ by Anthony Browne for this lesson.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
.
!
?
a sentence about one idea that makes complete sense
a sentence formed of two main clauses and a joining word
a sentence formed of a main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause
Exit quiz
6 Questions
My heart pounded in my chest.
I was super freaked out, but I went inside anyway.
When I arrived, the voice inside didn’t sound like Grandma!