Help children create engaging diary entries with this KS1 text types resource pack. Pupils will write their own entries based on a special day, either real or imagined, using examples and planning tools to guide their writing.
The pack includes two WAGOLL model texts. The first recounts a birthday, capturing the excitement, presents, party games and the writer’s feelings. The second recount follows a school trip to the zoo, describing the journey, observations of animals and reflections on the day.
Pupils can read, annotate and discuss these texts to see how the events are ordered, how feelings are expressed and how first-person perspective is used to bring the writing to life.
What’s included in this resource
- Model text 1 – It’s my birthday! A WAGOLL diary recount about a familiar event, showing sequencing, description and emotion
- Model text 2 – A trip to the zoo A WAGOLL diary recount about a school trip, showing how to describe activities, observations and reflections
- Diary recount writing sheet: PDF with success criteria, examples of time adverbials and adjectives to support pupils’ writing
- ‘A Special Day’ idea cards: PDF to inspire pupils’ independent writing about their own experiences or story characters
- Diary recount writing plan: Template to help pupils plan their entries and order events logically
- Writing paper: Themed sheet for pupils to present their finished diary entries
The resources give teachers multiple ways to support pupils. Pupils can practise sequencing events, using descriptive language and linking ideas with conjunctions and time words.
Idea cards encourage creativity, while the writing plan ensures entries are structured and coherent. The model texts act as clear examples of how to write effectively, demonstrating vocabulary, sentence structure and expression of feelings.
Curriculum links
- Year 1: Pupils practise saying aloud what they plan to write and composing sentences before writing
- Year 2: Pupils write for different purposes, plan their writing, use past tense and expand noun phrases
This pack gives you everything you need to teach diary writing in a structured and engaging way, helping pupils plan, draft and present high-quality diary entries confidently.