Lesson 32: Keep a personal or travel journal

✍️ WRITING (40 Lessons)🟣 D. Functional Writing

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Objective

I can keep a simple personal or travel journal by adding the date, location, sensory details (see, hear, smell, taste, touch), and a short reflection about my thoughts and feelings.

Materials

Tip: Use a quick header each time — Date, Place, Title — then write 5–8 clear sentences.

Mini-lesson — How to write a strong journal entry

  1. Start with the basics: Write the date and place. Add a short title.
  2. Tell what happened: Use time words like first, then, finally.
  3. Add sensory details: What did you see/hear/smell/taste/touch?
  4. Reflect: How did it make you feel? What did you learn or notice?
  5. Keep it honest & specific: Real moments, small details, and your voice.

Guided Practice — Plan a journal entry

Plan a journal entry about a memorable walk or a short trip:

  • Header: DatePlaceTitle
  • Bullet 3–4 sensory details (what you saw/heard/felt)
  • Write a reflection line: “This mattered because…”
Tracing Pad
Tracing snapshot for print

Drag & Drop — Build clear journaling rules

Drag the chips into the slots to build strong journaling tips. Keep punctuation at the end.

Beginwithdateplaceandashorttitle.
Usetimewordslikefirstnextfinally.
Addsensorydetailstoshownotjusttell.
Writehowyoufeltandwhyitmattered.
Keepentriesshortandspecificfivetoeightsentences.
Namepeopleplacesandtimesclearly.
UsefirstpersonwordslikeImeandmy.
Sketchatinymaporlisthighlightsfortraveldays.
Useastartomarkyourfavoritemomentoftheday.
Finishwithareflectionaboutwhatyoulearnedornoticed.
Itisokaytoskipadayjuststartagainnextentry.
Rereadandfixcapitalspunctuationandspellingquickly.

Quick Check (15 questions)

1) A journal entry should always include…

2) Which detail is sensory?

3) What is a reflection?

4) Which title fits a travel journal?

5) Best order for an entry:

6) Which word shows first person?

7) Which entry shows sensory detail?

8) For travel days, a helpful add-on is…

9) The phrase “show, not just tell” means…

10) What should you do if you skip a day?

11) Which sentence is a reflection?

12) A strong ending often…

13) Which entry uses first person correctly?

14) Which is best for a journal title?

15) Before finishing, you should…

Assessment (parent/teacher)

Exit ticket (student)

I will practice…

Lesson 33 →