the owl who was afraid of the dark diary entries...

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Learning Objective: To explore and identify the features of diary entries.

The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark Diary Entries

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Plop loves keeping a diary of his adventures so that he can remember everything he is learning about the dark.

Why do you think some people like to keep a diary?

Have you ever written a diary?

What sorts of things do people write about in diaries?


Diaries are a type of recount that are personal and private; they are not usually written with an intended audience in mind.

People write diaries for lots of different reasons, such as: • to help them remember things they’ve done or that have happened to

them • to help them make sense of their feelings and emotions • to provide a record of their life to look back on in later years • just for fun!

Even though diaries are usually private, many people have had their diaries published, often after their death.

Have you heard of or read any famous diaries?


What can you tell me about Plop’s diary?

What information has he included? What

features has he used in his writing?

Discuss your ideas with a

partner.

Dear Diary, Today was such an exciting day! I made a new friend and I saw the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen - fireworks! It started just like any other day. I woke up early and Mummy and Daddy told me off for being awake in the daytime. Mummy said that I should go and learn about the dark but I didn’t want to. To me, dark is the scariest thing in the whole wide world. After a while though, Mummy convinced me to fly down to the ground. Actually, I didn’t really fly. I sort of fell and rolled to a stop when I hit the ground. That was when I met the little boy who told me about fireworks.

He even thought I was a firework when I landed. Isn’t that funny! He also told me about bonfires because I didn’t know what they were. After I had flown back up to the landing branch, I waited and waited for it to get dark so I could watch the fireworks. Mummy and Daddy sat with me on the very top branch so I wouldn’t be scared (even though I was a bit). Then, as if by magic, the fireworks began. Never in my whole life (all nine weeks of it) have I ever seen anything so amazing! I hope there are fireworks again soon. I’d better go now. Daddy is telling me to catch forty winks.

Love, Plop.


Over the next few lessons, we’re going to be planning and writing a diary entry as though we are Plop. This means we will need to be able to write just as he has written in the diary entry we’ve just read, using

many of the same features, so that it is consistent and believable.

Look at the features of diary entries on the

next slide. Can you explain what each one means and find examples in

the text?




Love, Plop.

Informal

Past tense

Greeting and sign-off

First person

Chronological

Opinion

Paragraphs

Idioms


Past tense Diary entries are written in the past tense because they explain something that has happened in the past, usually what has already happened that day. A diary is a type of recount.



Love, Plop.

The first part of Plop’s diary highlights verbs written in the past tense. How

many can you find in the second half of his diary?




Love, Plop.

How many did you find? Can you change the sentences below so that they are in written in the past tense?

I stand on my branch.

His feathers are very fluffy.


Chronological If something is chronological, it means that it is written in time order. Diary entries like this are a little like recounts - they tell the story of what has happened that day.



Love, Plop.

What phrases has Plop used to show when something happened during

his day?


First person Diary entries are written in the first person because the author is writing about themselves. Plop uses lots of first person pronouns in his diary.

First person pronouns

Third person pronouns

I me my

mine

he / she you your yours

He was very afraid of the dark.

Can you change these sentences from the third person to the first person?

Your tummy is always hungry!


Informal Diary entries are written in an informal style, meaning they are written in a relaxed and friendly manner. They are written in the same way you might speak to your friends or family.Dear Diary, Today was such an exciting day! I made a new friend and I saw the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen - fireworks! It started just like any other day. I woke up early and Mummy and Daddy told me off for being awake in the daytime. Mummy said that I should go and learn about the dark but I didn’t want to. To me, dark is the scariest thing in the whole wide world. After a while though, Mummy convinced me to fly down to the ground. Actually, I didn’t really fly. I sort of fell and rolled to a stop when I hit the ground. That was when I met the little boy who told me about fireworks.


Love, Plop.

Can you find any examples of contractions in Plop’s

diary?

One of the differences between formal and informal language is that informal

language uses contractions, like saying doesn’t instead of does not.




Love, Plop.

Did you find them all?


Idioms An idiom is a commonly used expression that doesn’t mean exactly what it says. It is not literal - it is a form of figurative language. Idioms are often used to add colour to a piece of writing. Idioms can often make writing funnier, more casual or less formal.

Have you ever heard any of these idioms before?

Idiom MeaningBreak a leg Good luck

To get out of hand To get out of control

To pull someone’s leg To trick or tease someone

Bite the bullet Be brave and get an unpleasant task out of the way

To see eye to eye with someone To agree with someone

It’s a piece of cake It’s really easy




Love, Plop.

Plop uses an idiom at the end of his

diary entry. Can you find it? What does it

mean?


Greeting and sign-off Diary entries are often written as though the author is writing to a person (even though the ‘person’ is a diary!), a bit like a letter.



Love, Plop.

Did you notice that Plop wrote the word diary with a capital D? This turns it into a proper noun (the name of a

person or place).

What other informal ways can you think of to

sign-off from a diary entry?


Opinion Unlike formal recounts, diaries include the author’s opinions and feelings. Expressing how the author feels about the events that have happened that day is a key feature of a diary entry.



Love, Plop.

Have a look at these highlighted

sentences. Which are facts and which are Plop’s opinions and

feelings?




Love, Plop.

Today was such an exciting day!

I woke up early and Mummy and Daddy told me off for being awake in the daytime.

To me, dark is the scariest thing in the whole wide world. That was when I met the little

boy who told me about fireworks.

After I had flown back up to the landing branch, I waited and waited for it to get dark so I could watch the fireworks.

Never in my whole life (all nine weeks of it) have I ever seen anything so amazing!

I hope there are fireworks again soon.

These sentences are all Plop’s opinions

and feelings:

These sentences are all facts: Did you get those right?


Paragraphs Like any piece of writing, Plop has arranged his diary entry into paragraphs. A paragraph is a group of two or more sentences that help to break up a piece of writing so that it is easier to read. Paragraphs can



Love, Plop.

signal a break in time, or show when a new event or theme is being discussed.

How many paragraphs has Plop included in his

diary? How do you know when a new paragraph starts?




Love, Plop.

There are six paragraphs in Plop’s diary! Did you notice that each paragraph

starts on a new line and has an indent? This makes it clear when a new

paragraph has started.

Can you see how each paragraph shows a different time of Plop’s day? What words has he used to show this?


Let’s recap! Plop’s diary entry is: • Written in the first person using personal pronouns like I, me, mine and

my • Written in an informal and chatty style • Written as though it was a letter • Written in the past tense because it describes events that have already

happened • Written giving a mixture of facts and opinions

Great job everyone! Are you ready to do some independent work?


PLENARYWe have read diary entries that recount the events of the first two

chapters of ‘The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark’. These two chapters were called ‘Dark is exciting’ and ‘Dark is kind’.

What other exciting events will Plop have to write about in his diary from

the other chapters you have read?

Think, pair, share your ideas.

the owl who was afraid of the dark diary entries...

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