# 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

- Notebook or digital doc (one page per day)
- Pencil/keyboard
- Tracing Pad (below) for brainstorming

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.

Video won’t be included when printing.

## Guided Practice — Plan a journal entry

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

- Header: Date • Place • Title
- Bullet 3–4 sensory details (what you saw/heard/felt)
- Write a reflection line: “This mattered because…”

Tracing Pad
Lines
Letter
Pen

## Drag & Drop — Build clear journaling rules

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

Begin with date place and a short title.
Use time words like first next finally.
Add sensory details to show not just tell.
Write how you felt and why it mattered.
Keep entries short and specific five to eight sentences.
Name people places and times clearly.
Use first person words like I me and my.
Sketch a tiny map or list highlights for travel days.
Use a star to mark your favorite moment of the day.
Finish with a reflection about what you learned or noticed.
It is okay to skip a day just start again next entry.
Reread and fix capitals punctuation and spelling quickly.

## Quick Check (15 questions)

#### 1) A journal entry should always include…

a secret code the date (and often the place) a rhyme

#### 2) Which detail is sensory?

It was good. I went there. The cocoa smelled rich and sweet.

#### 3) What is a reflection?

your thoughts or feelings about the experience a list of animals a map of the world

#### 4) Which title fits a travel journal?

Stuff Morning at the Harbor Random

#### 5) Best order for an entry:

Reflection → Title → Date Place → Reflection → Date Date/Place → Events with details → Reflection

#### 6) Which word shows first person?

I they it

#### 7) Which entry shows sensory detail?

The park was okay. Wind rattled the leaves and my cheeks felt cold. It was there.

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

a comic about superheroes a long speech a small map or highlight list

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

include vivid details readers can imagine make your entry longer use only dialogue

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

quit journaling start again on the next entry copy a friend’s entry

#### 11) Which sentence is a reflection?

We walked to the lighthouse. The waves were big. I felt calm watching the waves roll in.

#### 12) A strong ending often…

explains why the moment mattered adds a random joke lists grocery items

#### 13) Which entry uses first person correctly?

You climbed the hill. I climbed the hill with my cousin. They climbs the hill.

#### 14) Which is best for a journal title?

Day Things Sunset Walk by the Pier

#### 15) Before finishing, you should…

check capitals, punctuation, and spelling erase everything add 20 exclamation marks

## Assessment (parent/teacher)

Entry starts with date and place Includes sensory details Uses time words to organize events Ends with a reflection that explains meaning

## Exit ticket (student)

😀 I can write a complete journal entry with details and reflection 🙂 I need more practice using sensory details 😅 I need help organizing with time words

#### I will practice…

Writing date & place first Adding at least 3 sensory details Ending with a reflection
Lesson 33 →