This Year 5 unit from the Real Writing collection focuses on writing an informal recount in the form of a diary.
Pupils explore the historic 1969 Moon landing through an original model text by author Jon Mayhew, imagining Neil Armstrong’s diary. The model is available in PDF (plain, illustrated and annotated) and PowerPoint (annotated and non-annotated).
Across two weeks, pupils learn diary features, investigate different viewpoints, and develop skills in grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.
The unit follows a carefully mapped framework, and matches Year 5 writing objectives.
Curriculum links
English objectives:
- Writing an informal recount (diary)
- Using prepositions and fronted adverbials
- Adding relative clauses beginning who, which, where, when, whose, that
- Using present perfect verbs
- Distinguishing between spoken and written language
- Choosing the appropriate register
- Punctuation: commas to clarify meaning and avoid ambiguity
- Spelling: Year 5/6 statutory words
Cross-curricular links:
- History: Moon landing, Apollo 11 mission
- Science: space exploration, gravity, orbit, lunar module
Vocabulary
- Tier 2 words: mission, preparation, ascent, intense, insignificant, leaky, valve, trudge, destination, cumbersome
- Tier 3 words: gravity, launch, cockpit, atmosphere, lunar module, command module, orbit, dock
- Common exception words: guarantee, sacrifice
Resources included
- Model text PDF: plain, illustrated, annotated
- Annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations
- Teacher notes with full teaching sequence
- Vocabulary match cards
- Sequencing events worksheets
- Facts and opinions worksheets
- Diary margin planners
- ‘How to write a diary’ poster
- Writing skills checklists
Activities and teaching sequence
Phase 1 – Familiarisation
- Introduce Neil Armstrong and the Moon landing, using photos and video footage
- Read the model diary as a class, discuss significance
- Explore Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary, match words to definitions
- Identify diary features: headings, chronological order, self-reflection
- Complete sequencing events and facts vs opinions activities
Phase 2 – Teaching & rehearsing
- Grammar focus: homophones, homonyms, homographs, commas, prepositional phrases, fronted adverbials, relative clauses
- Use model text to highlight examples and practice sentences
- Explore viewpoint cards to write diary from another person’s perspective
- Plan diary entries using margin planner
Phase 3 – Application
- Write diary entries over multiple sessions
- Proofread and edit using writing skills check
- Focus on improving grammar, punctuation and vocabulary
- Encourage discussion of viewpoints and self-reflection
Outcomes
By the end of this unit, pupils will be able to:
- Write an informal diary recount using chronological structure
- Incorporate prepositions, fronted adverbials and relative clauses
- Use commas accurately to avoid ambiguity
- Demonstrate understanding of homophones, homonyms and homographs
- Express opinions and facts clearly
- Apply subject-specific vocabulary related to space and the Moon landing
- Plan, draft, edit and improve their own writing independently