Holiday activities: story writing and post cards.

Holiday activities: story writing and post cards.

Holiday story writing

The summer holidays provide a great subject for writing, but it is not always easy to find a more interesting way to approach the topic. Here are five great sets of worksheets aimed at inspiring some fabulous holiday writing:

1. Holiday food: when we go on holiday we usually eat different kinds of food, especially if we go abroad. This worksheet provides lots of ideas to encourage writing about the most enjoyable meal whilst on holiday.

2. Where I stayed on holiday: whether it was smart hotel, a cottage in the countryside or camping there is plenty to describe and write about here.

3. A great holiday recipe: a really quirky idea where all the best parts, or ingredients, of a holiday are added together to produce a fantastic recipe.

4. Holiday travel: hints and tips on writing a description of setting off on holiday, whether by car, coach or flying.

5. The worst holiday ever: more creative writing than factual as Mr and Mrs Hope head off on holiday. What could possibly go wrong?

These pages can be given to children before the summer holiday so that they can make notes whilst they are away, but are just as useful at the beginning of the Autumn term as an inspiration for writing with their new teacher.

Go to English: Writing: Holiday Writing

Post card writing

The summer holiday is in full flow, but what better way to say what you are doing than by writing a post card? In times gone by most people on holiday would send post cards to their friends, briefly telling them about the holiday. They would show professional photos of the area or cartoons. There is even a museum of post cards in Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, featuring the cheeky post cards of Donald McGill, which is well worth a visit for adults.

Many people still enjoy sending and receiving post cards and we have put together some ideas to help children write interesting and fun postcards of their own, even if they are not on holiday!
Firstly, use the template to write on. The stamp goes on the top right. The rest of the right hand side is used for the address. If sending from abroad then the country it is going to will need to be added.

On the other side it was usual to put the date; very valuable for postcard collectors! Then write the card.

There are few rules about writing a postcard; it is nothing like as formal as writing a letter, but here are a few tips:

1. Write small to cram as much in as possible.
2. There is no need to say who you are writing to (as it is on the address)
3. Avoid questions as the person receiving the card is unlikely to reply to it.
4. Make it exciting, informative and fun.
5. Write more like you speak than you would when writing a letter.
6. Finish on a positive note; even ‘Wish you were here!’

As well as writing the postcard, children could be asked to design the front – a seaside picture etc.

Go to English: Writing: Holiday Writing