Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Diary of an Invented Voice: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 7
- ForYear 7
- StageKey Stage 3
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Diary of an Invented Voice is a free printable English worksheet for Year 7 (ages 11 to 12), in Key Stage 3. Children invent a character, then write that character's diary entry for one important day. It needs only paper and a pencil. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children start by planning in the box at the top of page 1. They decide who their character is and which day matters. Then they write the entry on the lines, using a checklist to stay on track. The checklist covers a date and greeting, a first person voice, events told in order in the past tense, two feelings shown through actions, and a closing thought about tomorrow. Last, they reread the entry once to check it.
- Date and a greeting, such as Dear Diary
- First person voice (I, my, we)
- Events told in order, in the past tense
- Two feelings shown through actions, not only named
- A closing thought about tomorrow
Ideas for building a character
Name and place
Give your character a name, an age and a place to live. Keep it simple. A few small details are enough to make a voice feel real.
A turning point
Choose one moment that changes the day. It could be good news, a mistake, a meeting or a surprise. One clear moment gives the entry a shape.
How they sound
Is the character cheerful, nervous, proud or grumpy? Mood changes the words they pick and how long their sentences are.
Actions for feelings
For each of two feelings, decide what the character does. Think about hands, feet, voice and what they notice. Do this before drafting.
What is writing in role?
A diary is a personal record, written by one person about their own day. It is usually private, so the writer can be honest and chatty. Writing in role means writing as someone you have invented, not as yourself. The reader should hear that character's voice, with their own worries, hopes and way of describing things.
Good diary writers do more than list events. They show how the day felt. Instead of only writing that a character was nervous, they might describe what the character did, noticed or avoided. This lets readers work out the feeling for themselves. Rereading your own work and fixing small slips is part of being a writer.
Skills and curriculum link
- Writing in role
- Showing feelings
- First person voice
- Past tense
- Planning writing
- Checking your work
Helpful ideas for diary writing
- Narrator voiceThe person writing the diary is I. Keep the narrator in the first person, using I, my and we. Other people in the day can still be he, she or they, or be named.
- Past tenseA diary entry usually tells what already happened, so verbs often end in ed or change form, such as walked or felt. Check the verbs when you reread.
- Show and tellA feeling can be shown through what a character does or notices. Naming the feeling as well is fine. Try to do both at least once.
- Order of eventsWords such as first, then, later and in the end help the reader follow the day. They also help you check that nothing is missing.
Key words
- DiaryA personal record of a day, written by the person who lived it.
- First personWriting as I or we, from the point of view of the narrator.
- Past tenseThe form of a verb used for things that have already happened.
- NarratorThe voice telling the story. In a diary, it is the diary writer.
- Turning pointThe moment when something changes for the character.
- Invented voiceThe way a made up character speaks and thinks on the page.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Explain that the entry is about an invented character, not the writer. Ask who the character is before any writing starts.
- Plan in the top box, then draft on the lines. Tick the checklist as each part appears in the entry.
- Reread the entry once. Check the voice, the tense and the two feelings, then use page 2 to compare.
- Come back another day with a new character. Repeating a familiar task builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Offer a choice of three turning points and a sentence starter such as 'Today everything changed when...'. Ask for just one feeling shown through an action first. Add the second feeling after a short break, once the first has been read aloud.
To stretch confident children
Rewrite the final paragraph with a different mood, such as relief instead of worry. Change the word choices and sentence lengths to match the new mood. Then read both endings aloud and say what changed in the voice.
Make it a game
Sharing is optional. Volunteers swap invented entries and guess the character's mood and turning point. The reader explains which words gave the clue. Pupils who prefer can keep their entry to themselves.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forThe entry slips into writing about the writer's own life.
Try thisReturn to the planning box. Name the character, give them an age and a place, and ask what they would say differently from you.
Watch forThe narrator changes from I to he or she part way through.
Try thisUnderline who is telling the story. The narrator stays I throughout, while other people in the day can still be he, she or they.
Watch forFeelings are only named, such as 'I was sad'.
Try thisAsk what the character did when they felt that way. Add one action or detail, and keep the feeling word if it fits.
Talk about it
- Who is your character, and why did you choose them?
- What is the most important moment in their day?
- Which words show how the character sounds?
- How can a character show a feeling without naming it?
- Why is the entry written in the past tense?
- How might the same day sound in a different mood?
Take it off the page
Character interview
Ask a family member to play an invented character. Ask them three questions about their day and listen for how they speak.
Voice swap
Say one plain sentence, such as 'I went to the shop'. Say it again as a nervous, proud or tired character. Notice what changes.
Feelings in action
Take turns acting out a feeling without speaking. Others guess it, then say what the actor did that gave it away.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Ask about the character before the writing starts. Praise the voice and the details, not only neat spelling. Short bursts work better than long sessions.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and sharing entries stays optional.
Home educators
Pair it with a favourite novel or diary style book. Ask your learner to notice how the narrator sounds, then write in a voice of their own. It can be reused for brothers, sisters or revision.
Where this skill fits
Before this sheet, children will have written short pieces in the first person and told events in order. They will also have met simple ways of describing feelings. This sheet pulls those skills together in one short piece of writing.
After it, learners can write longer pieces in role, such as letters, speeches or a story told by one character. They can also practise changing mood and viewpoint on purpose, and edit more carefully.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Diary of an Invented Voice for?
It is written for Year 7 (ages 11 to 12), in Key Stage 3. Younger or older learners can use it too, with more or less support from page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise writing a first person diary entry in an invented voice. They also plan their writing, show feelings through actions and check their own work by rereading.
- Does the diary have to be about the child?
No. Pupils write about an invented character, not themselves. This makes it easier to try a new voice, and children can be as creative as they like.
- Can the diary mention other people as he or she?
Yes. The narrator stays in the first person, using I, my and we. Other people in the day can be named or called he, she or they.
- What if it feels too hard?
Give a choice of three turning points and a sentence starter such as 'Today everything changed when...'. Ask for one feeling shown through an action first, then add more.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and sharing entries is optional.
- Is it free and screen free?
Yes to both. It is free to print for home and classroom use, and it needs only paper and a pencil. Black and white printing works well on plain A4 paper.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.