Teenage Diaries document the time and life of real teenagers.

The Diary of Anne Frank is the real story of a 13 year old Jewish girl in who goes with her family into hiding to escape the Nazis during World War II. She kept a diary filled with writing, drawings, photographs, and collage telling about her life and times.
Look at a scrapbook about Anne's life. http://annefrank.com/af_life/story_intro.htm

Read excerpts from Anne Frank's diary. http://annefrank.com/2_life_excerpts.htm

Anne Frank wanted to be a writer. Between the ages of 13 and 15, she wrote short stories, essays, fairy tales, and began a novel. See artifacts and examples from her diary, scrapbook and other writings. http://ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/af/htmlsite/

Do you know the difference between diaries and memoirs?

http://fcit.usf.edu/Holocaust/activity/68plan/Diaries2.htm

Teenage diaries and memoirs can inspire novels.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, is narrated by Holden Caulfield, a sixteen year old in the 1950s. http://sparknotes.com/lit/catcher/summary.html

Read a summary of Catcher in the Rye. Better yet, read the book!

More teen diaries to check out, real and imagined.

http://berkeleypubliclibrary.org/teen/diaries.html

Teenage diaries can be aural.

Teens recording diaries for the Talking History Project and National Public Radio.

Download The Teen Reporter Handbook for assistance in making your own aural diary.

http://radiodiaries.org/handbook.pdf

Teenage diaries can be works of art and literature.

See diaries made by 8th Graders at I.C.E., the Institute for Collaborative Education in NYC.

Create your own Teenage Diary.

Start by stacking up at least 40 blank pieces of 8.5" x 11" paper.
Use thicker paper on the outside to make a study front and back cover.

Run white glue along one edge.

Use masking tape to bind the edge that you put glue on.

You can cover the book with fabric.

Paint, markers, crayons and found objects to decorate the cover.


Fill the diary up with your thoughts about being a teenager here and now. Include poems, favorite things, drawings and whatever you choose.



Make your Teenage Diary memorable. This is your story of your life.