PetJournalActivity.doc

Pet Journal Activity

Objective: Understand when to use past tense and present tense.
- Use past tense for actions that are finished.
- Use simple present for actions that happen “usually, always, sometimes, never, etc”.
- Also use simple present for true things or opinions that might be true.

Instructions: How to write a pet (or animal) journal.
1. Think of a pet or a wild animal that you like.
2. Make a plan for your writing.
Write down 5-6 actions that animal always, usually, or often does. (For example: Dogs usually bark. They often chase cats, or play with toys. They always go for a walk in the morning, and they often like to chew on things.)
Stories are more interesting when they include the 5 senses. What kinds of things does this animal often see, smell, hear, taste, or feel.
3. Use your imagination - if this animal could write a journal before it went to sleep at night, how would it describe its day?
4. Now write your pet or animal journal. Include the information you wrote above in your plan.

Pet Journal

My name is Lucky. I am a small dog. Let me tell you about my day. Today was a great day! First I heard my owner get up, so I knew it was time for me to get up and take my owner for a walk. After that I helped my owner prepare breakfast. Then, I barked “Goodbye” to my owner many times and watched her drive away to work.
Suddenly, I saw a cat jump into our yard. It is my duty to watch the house, so I ran out of my special dog door, and I chased the cat all around the yard. I can tell you, that cat won’t come back here again!
Then I was tired, so I took a nap. When I woke up, I played with my ball. Then I chewed on my owner’s shoes for a while. They always smell so good and remind me of my owner. I heard my owner’s car and I barked “Welcome”. I ran around my owner and jumped up on her. Then I laid on my back and my owner rubbed my belly. It felt so good!
After that, I helped my owner make dinner. Of course I let her eat first and have all the best food, because I think it is polite. I ate a tasty dinner of whatever food was left by my owner. Then I fell asleep happily on the bed next to my owner’s feet. What a happy day!