Diaries are readers’ and writers’ best friend. Keeping a diary can provide a much-needed creative outlet, a safe place to vent frustrations and wonder about the future. Published diaries and public blogs can entertain, amuse and help readers who have faced struggles similar to the author’s feel less alone. And some, like Anne Frank’s diary or the Lewis and Clark expedition journals, have played major roles in recording and even changing the course of history.
National Dear Diary Day (September 22) is the perfect opportunity to connect with your students—and help them better connect with their own thoughts and feelings through writing. So break out the composition notebooks and pens—it’s time to celebrate the power of the written word with these three introspective journal prompts for 3rd grade students!
Prompt #1: “Dear Diary, today in class we…”
An oldie but goodie, this “dear diary” prompt is a classic. It’s also an excellent chance for your students not just to look back fondly on a productive day in class, but to test out the waters of personal narrative writing. It can also function as a creative review of both the day’s events and the lessons learned along the way. You can make this prompt part of your classroom routine at the end of each day if you like—or save it for special occasions like Dear Diary Day.
PROJECT IDEA
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Mrs. Gross’s 2nd-grade class turned this prompt into a beautiful diary-styled classbook project with just a few simple extra steps. After writing routinely in their journals throughout the year, they selected one entry per student from anywhere between August to March and arranged them in chronological order. Then, after creating illustrations to accompany each entry, they published their writing in a deluxe hardcover book to preserve their 2nd-grade memories for years to come.
Prompt #2: “Dear Diary, I feel ___ when…”
Journals are an invaluable source of comfort and clarity when it comes to working through something as complicated as emotions, whether you’re eight years old or 80. This journal prompt encourages your 3rd-graders to write about something which generates strong feelings for them, whether it’s the joy of playing with friends or the frustration of math homework they can’t quite seem to get the hang of. (Hint: Ask your students to focus not just on how their subject makes them feel but why it makes them feel that way to get the most out of this explanatory writing exercise.)
PROJECT IDEA
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The students of Mrs. L. Lee’s class not only wrote about their feelings, but published what they wrote in a lovely classbook all about their emotions. As Mrs. Lee herself explains in the preface, “As we delved into different topics, we decided to think about our feelings and explain what factors bring out different emotions in us. We wrote about what makes us happy, sad, scared, and proud. We hope you enjoy reading our stories.”
Prompt #3: “Dear Diary, the best place in the world is ___ because…”
An ideal blend of descriptive and opinion writing, this journal prompt asks your 3rd-graders to support their stance on “the best place in the world” with details that bring that place to life and illustrate its appeal. Remind your students to keep their minds open when writing—the place they choose can be anything from a beloved vacation spot to somewhere they’ve always dreamed of going, or simply their favorite tree for reading or picnicking under.
PROJECT IDEA
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Mrs. Kline’s students were thrilled to publish their very own collection of writings on beautiful places in their classbook, What a Wonderful World. In their book, they described (and illustrated) their adventures in places all over the world in vivid detail, including boating in Canada, swimming at the beach in Puerto Rico or enjoying “the happiest place on earth” in Orlando, FL.
3rd Grade Journal Writing for Dear Diary Day
There’s something about writing the words “Dear diary” that can turn even the simplest writing exercise into something deeply personal, whether it’s a simple record of the day, an emotional exploration, a memory or a dream. Those words offer up an invitation to write thoughtfully, attentively and—most of all—honestly. After all, if you can’t tell it to your diary, who can you tell?
Of course, not all diary entries need to be kept secret. Sharing deep thoughts and opinions with the world is what writing and publishing is all about. It inspires others to do the same and can open up important conversations, even if just between two readers or writers. Publishing your students’ writing in a professionally bound classbook helps bring their words to life—and to light—and creates a snapshot of who they are today they’ll be able to look back on with fondness for many tomorrows to come.
For more journal prompts and other creative writing resources for your classroom, be sure to check out our online teacher’s lounge and sign up today for your free publishing kit!
Image sources: Lead image via Shutterstock; Images 1, 2, 3 via OpenClipart.org