Title – Pen Pal Letters

By – Jamie Rettke

Subject – Language Arts

Grade Level – 3-4

Topic Reading/Writing – Friendly Letters

Standards

State Goal 3: Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
Learning Standard A: Use correct grammar, spelling,
punctuation, capitalization, and structure.

Learning Benchmark 3.A.2: Write paragraphs that
include a variety of sentence types.

Learning Standard C: Communicate ideas in writing to
accomplish a variety of purposes.

Leaning Benchmark 3.C.2a: Write for a variety of
purposes and for specific audiences.

Student Objectives: When asked, the students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an ability to create a letter of at least 2 paragraphs

2. Edit letters for clarity, punctuation, capitalization, and correct
verb tense

Materials

All about me sheet (optional)

writing materials

Example letter, showing format

Materials Preparation: Create an All About Me sheet for students to record
their interests, hobbies, etc. The students will be able to use these sheets
to refer back to when needing ideas for their first letter. This sheet will
be filled out by the students before introducing Pen Pal
Letter.

Integration of Technology

The students with use Microsoft Word to type the final copy of their letters.

Criteria: letters must include:

At least two paragraphs

Correct use of punctuation

Correct use of capitalization

Motivation component

Ask students to define what they think a “pen pal” is. Ask students if
they have ever had a pen pal. Explain how when you were a bit younger than
they are now, you started writing a girl in Washington. Talk about the
experience and how just two years ago, you went to Washington, to be in the
girl’s wedding. Explain to class that we are now going to start writing to
students in another 5th grade class, in New York. Ask a student to
come to the map to point out New York.

Procedures

1. Brainstorm ideas to write in the first letter. Make the first
suggestion, then ask the students for further possibilities.
Remind the students that this other class lives in New York and
may have never been to Illinois.

a. Suggested ideas: hobbies; what you did over the summer;
talk about the town/state; if you have ever had a pen pal; , etc.,

b. Remind student that they should try to ask their pen pal
questions, so that person has something to respond to.

2. Write all ideas on the board for the students to refer back to.

3. Review the format of a friendly letter. Create a large sample letter
on the board; label the following: date, greeting, body, closing,
signature.

4. Either on the board or on a large piece of poster board, model
a sample letter with the students. Tell the students to refer back
to the brainstorming ideas or to their “All About Me” sheet for
ideas.

5. Define criteria: letters should have at least two paragraphs and
must include capital lettering and correct punctuation.

6. Explain that because there a may be an uneven number of boys
and girls in the two classrooms, boys may write to girls and
visa versa. So, all the names of the students in New York are
written on index cards. Students will pick from the face down
cards, so it is all by chance who you get. Have students begin
writing their letters. Circulate around the room.

7. Once letters are completed, they should be checked (and edited,
if needed). Once edited, they may begin writing their final copy
of the letter.

8. For the final copy, the students will go to the school computer
lab and type their letters using Microsoft Word. The final draft will
be mailed to the school. All other copies should be kept in the
writing folders.

Jamie Rettke

TheNewTeacher2@aol.com

Tinley Park, IL

http://members.aol.com/thenewteacher2/teach.htm